Image processing apparatus and method, and program

ABSTRACT

An image processing apparatus includes a modification processing unit configured to modify an input image by distributing a value of each of pixels in the input image over a two-dimensional distribution area having a randomly different size and direction in accordance with modification characteristic information for distributing each pixel over the distribution area. The modification characteristic information is information for modifying the input image using a modification characteristic which is randomly different for each pixel position.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to image processing apparatuses andmethods, and programs, and more specifically to an image processingapparatus and method, and a program that can quickly apply an effect ofartistic style such as painting to an image.

Techniques are available for converting an input image to obtain anoutput image having a painting style. Such techniques are called nonphoto-realistic rendering (NPR) techniques. One of the NPR techniques isa technique for repeatedly adding a pattern resembling brush strokes toan image to obtain an image similar to that rendered in the style of anoil painting.

For example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No.8-44867 (corresponding U.S. Pat. No. 5,621,868) (hereinafter referred tothe “patent literature”) proposes an algorithm in which a process forreplacing each pixel in a certain elliptical region with the value ofthe pixel at the center thereof is performed on an input image togenerate a pattern resembling a brush stroke and to obtain an outputimage similar to an image rendered in the style of an oil painting.

In addition, A. Hertzmann has proposed, in “Painterly Rendering withCurved Brush Strokes of Multiple Sizes,” Proc. Sgigraph 98, ACM Press,1998, pp. 453-460 (hereinafter referred to as the “non-patentliterature”), an algorithm in which an image buffer is repeatedlyrendered over with brush stroke patterns to obtain output images and thesquared error between the input image and each of the output images isreduced to obtain a resulting image similar to an image rendered in anoil painting style. In this technique, rendering with different shapesof brush stroke patterns makes it possible to provide various paintingstyles of output images. For example, rendering with a circular brushstroke pattern allows an output image similar to an image rendered in apointillist style, and using curved brush strokes provides an outputimage similar to an image rendered in an impressionist style.

SUMMARY

However, the techniques proposed in the patent literature given aboveand by A. Hertzmann in the non-patent literature given above involverepeated rendering of brush strokes to obtain desired output images. Forexample, the output value of a certain pixel is determined after thevalue has been updated many times.

For this reason, the techniques proposed in the patent literature givenabove and by A. Hertzmann in the non-patent literature given above takea long processing time to obtain desired output images.

It is therefore desirable to quickly apply an effect of artistic stylesuch as painting to an image.

An image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure includes a modification processing unit configured to modifyan input image by distributing a value of each of pixels in the inputimage over a two-dimensional distribution area having a randomlydifferent size and direction in accordance with modificationcharacteristic information for distributing each pixel over thedistribution area, the modification characteristic information beinginformation for modifying the input image using a modificationcharacteristic which is randomly different for each pixel position.

The image processing apparatus may further include a modificationcharacteristic generation unit configured to generate the modificationcharacteristic information.

The modification characteristic generation unit may include apointillistic modification characteristic generation unit configured togenerate pointillistic modification characteristic informationconcerning a pointillist style using a random pattern image and apredetermined search range, and a stroke modification characteristicgeneration unit configured to generate stroke modificationcharacteristic information concerning a stroke using a search rangedetermined from stroke direction information concerning a direction ofthe stroke.

The pointillistic modification characteristic generation unit mayinclude a pointillistic coordinate detection unit configured to detectcoordinates of a pixel having a minimum value or a maximum value in thepredetermined search range for a pixel in the random pattern image, anda pointillistic modification characteristic calculation unit configuredto calculate a positional relationship between the pixel in the randompattern image and the pixel whose coordinates are detected by thepointillistic coordinate detection unit to generate the pointillisticmodification characteristic information. The stroke modificationcharacteristic generation unit may include a search range determinationunit configured to determine the search range from the stroke directioninformation, a stroke coordinate detection unit configured to detectcoordinates of a pixel having a minimum value or a maximum value in thesearch range for a pixel in a pointillistic pattern image including thepixel whose coordinates are detected by the pointillistic coordinatedetection unit, and a stroke modification characteristic calculationunit configured to calculate a positional relationship between the pixelin the pointillistic pattern image and the pixel whose coordinates aredetected by the stroke coordinate detection unit to generate the strokemodification characteristic information.

The image processing apparatus may further include a modificationcharacteristic combining unit configured to combine the pointillisticmodification characteristic information and the stroke modificationcharacteristic information to obtain composite modificationcharacteristic information. The modification processing unit may modifythe input image by distributing the value of each of the pixels in theinput image over the distribution area in accordance with the compositemodification characteristic information obtained by the modificationcharacteristic combining unit.

The modification processing unit may include a pointillisticmodification processing unit configured to modify the input image toobtain a modified image by distributing the value of each of the pixelsin the input image over the distribution area in accordance with thepointillistic modification characteristic information generated by thepointillistic modification characteristic generation unit, and a strokemodification processing unit configured to modify the modified imageobtained by the pointillistic modification processing unit, bydistributing a value of each of pixels in the modified image obtained bythe pointillistic modification processing unit over the distributionarea in accordance with the stroke modification characteristicinformation generated by the stroke modification characteristicgeneration unit.

The image processing apparatus may further include a pointillisticmodification characteristic adjustment unit configured to adjust acharacteristic represented by the pointillistic modificationcharacteristic information, and a stroke modification characteristicadjustment unit configured to adjust a characteristic represented by thestroke modification characteristic information.

The image processing apparatus may further include a selection unitconfigured to select a plurality of combinations of a degree to whichthe characteristic represented by the pointillistic modificationcharacteristic information is adjusted and a degree to which thecharacteristic represented by the stroke modification characteristicinformation is adjusted. The pointillistic modification characteristicadjustment unit and the stroke modification characteristic adjustmentunit may adjust the characteristic represented by the pointillisticmodification characteristic information and the characteristicrepresented by the stroke modification characteristic information,respectively, in accordance with the plurality of combinations selectedby a user using the selection unit.

The modification characteristic generation unit may include a firststroke modification characteristic generation unit configured togenerate first stroke modification characteristic information using arandom pattern image and a first search range determined from firststroke direction information concerning a first stroke direction, and asecond stroke modification characteristic generation unit configured togenerate second stroke modification characteristic information using asecond search range determined from second stroke direction informationconcerning a second stroke direction, the second stroke directioninformation being information obtained by rotating the first strokedirection information.

The first stroke modification characteristic generation unit may includea first search range determination unit configured to determine thefirst search range from the first stroke direction information, a firstcoordinate detection unit configured to detect coordinates of a pixelhaving a minimum value or a maximum value in the first search range fora pixel in the random pattern image, and a first stroke modificationcharacteristic calculation unit configured to calculate a positionalrelationship between the pixel in the random pattern image and the pixelwhose coordinates are detected by the first coordinate detection unit togenerate the first stroke modification characteristic information. Thesecond stroke modification characteristic generation unit may include asecond search range determination unit configured to determine thesecond search range from the second stroke direction information, asecond coordinate detection unit configured to detect coordinates of apixel having a minimum value or a maximum value in the second searchrange for a pixel in a stroke pattern image including the pixel whosecoordinates are detected by the first coordinate detection unit, and asecond stroke modification characteristic calculation unit configured tocalculate a positional relationship between the pixel in the strokepattern image and the pixel whose coordinates are detected by the secondcoordinate detection unit to generate the second stroke modificationcharacteristic information.

The image processing apparatus may further include a modificationcharacteristic combining unit configured to combine the first strokemodification characteristic information and the second strokemodification characteristic information to obtain composite modificationcharacteristic information. The modification processing unit may modifythe input image by distributing the value of each of the pixels in theinput image over the distribution area in accordance with the compositemodification characteristic information obtained by the modificationcharacteristic combining unit.

The modification processing unit may include a first modificationprocessing unit configured to modify the input image to obtain amodified image by distributing the value of each of the pixels in theinput image over the distribution area in accordance with the firststroke modification characteristic information generated by the firststroke modification characteristic generation unit, and a secondmodification processing unit configured to modify the modified imageobtained by the first modification processing unit, by distributing avalue of each of pixels in the modified image obtained by the firstmodification processing unit over the distribution area in accordancewith the second stroke modification characteristic information generatedby the second stroke modification characteristic generation unit.

The modification characteristic generation unit may generatepointillistic modification characteristic information concerning apointillist style using a random pattern image and a predeterminedsearch range.

The modification characteristic generation unit may include apointillistic coordinate detection unit configured to detect coordinatesof a pixel having a minimum value or a maximum value in thepredetermined search range for a pixel in the random pattern image, anda pointillistic modification characteristic calculation unit configuredto calculate a positional relationship between the pixel in the randompattern image and the pixel whose coordinates are detected by thepointillistic coordinate detection unit to generate the pointillisticmodification characteristic information.

The image processing apparatus may further include a jitter adding unitconfigured to add jitter to the input image before the input image isinput to the modification processing unit, and a sharpening processingunit configured to perform a high-frequency emphasis process on theimage modified by the modification processing unit.

The image processing apparatus may further include a modificationcharacteristic adjustment unit configured to adjust a characteristicrepresented by the modification characteristic information, and astrength adjustment unit configured to adjust a strength of the jitterand the high-frequency emphasis process.

The image processing apparatus may further include a selection unitconfigured to select a plurality of combinations of a degree to whichthe characteristic represented by the modification characteristicinformation is adjusted and a degree to which the jitter and thehigh-frequency emphasis process are adjusted. The modificationcharacteristic adjustment unit and the strength adjustment unit mayadjust the characteristic represented by the modification characteristicinformation and the strength of the jitter and the high-frequencyemphasis process, respectively, in accordance with the plurality ofcombinations selected by a user using the selection unit.

The image processing apparatus may further include a memory configuredto hold the modification characteristic information generated by themodification characteristic generation unit.

The image processing apparatus may further include a memory configuredto hold the modification characteristic information.

The modification characteristic information may be generated throughdetection of coordinates of a pixel having a minimum value or a maximumvalue in a predetermined search range for a pixel in a random patternimage and through calculation of a positional relationship between thepixel whose coordinates are detected and the pixel in the random patternimage.

An image processing method according to another embodiment of thepresent disclosure includes modifying an input image by distributing avalue of each of pixels in the input image over a two-dimensionaldistribution area having a randomly different size and direction inaccordance with modification characteristic information for distributingeach pixel over the distribution area, the modification characteristicinformation being information for modifying the input image using amodification characteristic which is randomly different for each pixelposition.

A program according to still another embodiment of the presentdisclosure is a program for causing a computer to execute an imageprocessing method for executing an image processing method, includingmodifying an input image by distributing a value of each of pixels inthe input image over a two-dimensional distribution area having arandomly different size and direction in accordance with modificationcharacteristic information for distributing each pixel over thedistribution area, the modification characteristic information beinginformation for modifying the input image using a modificationcharacteristic which is randomly different for each pixel position.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, an input image is modifiedby distributing a value of each of pixels in the input image over atwo-dimensional distribution area having a randomly different size anddirection in accordance with modification characteristic information fordistributing each pixel over the distribution area. The modificationcharacteristic information is information for modifying the input imageusing a modification characteristic which is randomly different for eachpixel position.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, an effect ofartistic style such as painting can be quickly applied to an image.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is block diagram illustrating an example configuration of adigital video camera serving as an image processing apparatus accordingto an embodiment of the present technology;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example configuration of adigital signal processor (DSP);

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example configuration of apainting-style conversion processing unit;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an example configuration of apointillistic modification characteristic calculation unit;

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a modification characteristiccalculation and modification process;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating an example configuration of amodification processing unit;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example of image processing;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a painting-styleconversion process;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a modificationcharacteristic calculation process;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a pixel-by-pixelmodification characteristic calculation process;

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a modificationprocess;

FIG. 12 is a block diagram illustrating another example configuration ofthe painting-style conversion processing unit;

FIG. 13 is a block diagram illustrating an example configuration of asharpening processing unit;

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example for setting a filtercharacteristic;

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating filter characteristics correspondingto search range sizes;

FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the painting-styleconversion process;

FIG. 17 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a sharpening process;

FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating the relationships between adjustmentbuttons and parameters;

FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating the relationships between adjustmentbuttons and parameters;

FIG. 20 is a block diagram illustrating another example configuration ofthe painting-style conversion processing unit;

FIG. 21 is a block diagram illustrating another example configuration ofthe painting-style conversion processing unit;

FIG. 22 is a block diagram illustrating an example configuration of apointillistic modification characteristic calculation unit;

FIG. 23 is a block diagram illustrating an example configuration of astroke modification characteristic calculation unit;

FIG. 24 is a diagram illustrating a modification characteristiccalculation and modification process;

FIG. 25 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the painting-styleconversion process;

FIG. 26 is a diagram illustrating a modification process;

FIG. 27 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a stroke patternmodification characteristic calculation process;

FIG. 28 is a diagram illustrating the stroke pattern modificationcharacteristic calculation process;

FIG. 29 is a diagram illustrating an existing technology to illustratethe advantages of the embodiments of the present technology;

FIG. 30 is a diagram illustrating advantages of the embodiments of thepresent technology;

FIG. 31 is a diagram illustrating an example of a search range;

FIG. 32 is a block diagram illustrating another example configuration ofthe painting-style conversion processing unit;

FIG. 33 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the painting-styleconversion process;

FIG. 34 is a block diagram illustrating another example configuration ofthe painting-style conversion processing unit;

FIG. 35 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the painting-styleconversion process;

FIG. 36 is a block diagram illustrating another example configuration ofthe painting-style conversion processing unit;

FIG. 37 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the painting-styleconversion process;

FIG. 38 is a diagram illustrating the relationships between adjustmentbuttons and parameters; and

FIG. 39 is a block diagram illustrating an example configuration of acomputer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the present disclosure will be described hereinafter. Thedescription will be given in the following order:

1. First embodiment (pointillist-style process)

2. Second embodiment (oil painting process (pointillist-styleprocess+stroke process))

3. Third embodiment (computer)

First Embodiment Example configuration of digital video camera

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a digital video camera 100, whichmay be an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

The digital video camera 100 illustrated in FIG. 1 is configured tocapture an image of an object and to display the image of the object orrecord image data. The digital video camera 100 illustrated in FIG. 1 isfurther configured to convert an input image to obtain an output imagehaving a painting style.

The digital video camera 100 includes a lens 101, an aperture 102, animage sensor 103, and a correlated double sampling (CDS) circuit 104.The digital video camera 100 further includes an analog/digital (A/D)converter 105, a digital signal processor (DSP) block 106, and a timinggenerator (TG) 107. The digital video camera 100 further includes aliquid crystal display (LCD) driver 108, an LCD 109, and a coder/decoder(CODEC) 110. The digital video camera 100 further includes a memory 111,a central processing unit (CPU) 112, an input device 113, and a bus 114.

The DSP block 106 is a block including a processor for signal processing(for example, a DSP) and a memory such as a random access memory (RAM)that holds image data. The DSP block 106 performs image processing,described below, by executing a predetermined program using theprocessor. The DSP block 106 is hereinafter referred to simply as the“DSP 106”.

Incident light from the object, which has passed through an opticalsystem including the lens 101, the aperture 102, and any other suitableelement, first reaches the image sensor 103. The image sensor 103includes a desired imaging device such as a charge coupled device (CCD)image sensor or a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) imagesensor. The image sensor 103 photoelectrically converts the incidentlight into electrical signals.

The image sensor 103 may be any device capable of photoelectricconversion.

An electrical signal output from the image sensor 103 is subjected tonoise removal (or reduction) by the CDS circuit 104, and is convertedinto a digital signal by the A/D converter 105. The A/D converter 105may be any device but is preferably a device capable of conversion intodigital data having a larger number of gradation levels. For example,the A/D converter 105 may convert an input electrical signal into imagedata having a number of gradation levels (the number of gradation levelswhich can be represented by data having, for example, about 14 to 16bits) larger than the number of gradation levels of normal digital videocameras (the number of gradation levels which can be represented by datahaving, for example, about 10 to 12 bits).

The digital image data converted by the A/D converter 105 is temporarilystored in the memory of the DSP 106. The timing generator 107 controls asignal processing system including the CDS circuit 104, the A/Dconverter 105, and the DSP 106 so that image data can be captured at aconstant frame rate. That is, an image data stream is supplied to theDSP 106 at a constant frame rate.

After performing a painting-style conversion process, described below,on the image data, the DSP 106 supplies the image data subjected toimage processing to the LCD driver 108 or the CODEC 110, if necessary.

The LCD driver 108 converts the image data supplied from the DSP 106into an analog image signal. The LCD driver 108 supplies the analogimage signal to the LCD 109, which may be a viewfinder of the digitalvideo camera 100, to display an image based on the image signal.

The CODEC 110 encodes the image data supplied from the DSP 106 using apredetermined method, and records the encoded image data onto the memory111 which may be a desired recording medium such as a semiconductorrecording medium, a magnetic recording medium, a magneto-opticalrecording medium, or an optical recording medium.

The CPU 112 controls the overall processing of the digital video camera100 in accordance with, for example, an instruction input by a useroperating the input device 113. The input device 113 includes operationbuttons such as a shutter button. The DSP 106, the timing generator 107,the CODEC 110, the memory 111, the LCD 109, the CPU 112, and the inputdevice 113 are connected to one another via the bus 114.

Example Configuration of DSP

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example configuration offunctions implemented by an internal processor (or arithmetic unit) ofthe DSP 106 executing a predetermined program. The internal processor ofthe DSP 106 executes the predetermined program to implement functionsincluding those of individual units of the DSP 106 illustrated in FIG.2. The DSP 106 includes a white balance processing unit 131, a demosaicprocessing unit 132, a tone mapping processing unit 133, a gammacorrection processing unit 134, a YC conversion processing unit 135, anda painting-style conversion processing unit 136.

The white balance processing unit 131 acquires a mosaic image based onimage data of a moving image or any other desired image, which has beensubjected to A/D conversion by the A/D converter 105. The mosaic imageis an image in which pixels each storing data corresponding to a colorcomponent of any of red (R), green (G), and blue (B) are arranged inaccordance with a color pattern called the Bayer pattern, and is alsoreferred to as raw data.

The white balance processing unit 131 multiplies the pixel values of theindividual pixels in the acquired mosaic image by an appropriatecoefficient to adjust the white balance of the mosaic image so that theactual color of an achromatic region in the image of the object appearsas an achromatic color. The white balance processing unit 131 suppliesthe mosaic image whose white balance has been adjusted to the demosaicprocessing unit 132. Hereinafter, the mosaic image whose white balancehas been adjusted is represented by Mw.

The demosaic processing unit 132 performs demosaic processing on themosaic image Mw supplied from the white balance processing unit 131 sothat each pixel has all the R, G, and B components. Thus, three piecesof image data of R, G, and B images corresponding to three, R, G, and Bcolor components are generated. The demosaic processing unit 132supplies the generated three pieces of image data of the R, G, and Bimages to the tone mapping processing unit 133.

Three pieces of image data of R, G, and B images are hereinafter alsoreferred to collectively as “RGB images”. Hereinafter, furthermore, thepixel value of the pixel at a position p on the mosaic image isrepresented by M(p). Hereinafter, in addition, the pixel values of thepixel at the position p in the image data subjected to demosaicprocessing are represented by [Rw(p), Gw(p), Bw(p)], where Rw(p) denotesthe pixel value of the R component, Gw(p) denotes the pixel value of theG component, and Bw(p) denotes the pixel value of the B component.

The tone mapping processing unit 133 performs tone mapping processing onthe RGB images, and supplies the RGB images subjected to tone mappingprocessing to the gamma correction processing unit 134. Hereinafter, thepixel values of the pixel at the position p in the image data subjectedto tone mapping processing are represented by [Ru(p), Gu(p), Bu(p)],where Ru(p) denotes the pixel value of the R component, Gu(p) denotesthe pixel value of the G component, and Bu(p) denotes the pixel value ofthe B component.

The gamma correction processing unit 134 performs gamma correction onthe RGB image subjected to tone mapping. The gamma correction processingunit 134 supplies the RGB images subjected to gamma correction to the YCconversion processing unit 135. Hereinafter, the pixel values of thepixel at the position p in the image data subjected to gamma correctionare represented by [Ruγ(p), Guγ(p), Buγ(p)], where Ruγ(p) denotes thepixel value of the R component, Guγ(p) denotes the pixel value of the Gcomponent, and Buγ(p) denotes the pixel value of the B component.

The YC conversion processing unit 135 performs YC matrix processing andchroma-component band limiting on the RGB images subjected to gammacorrection to generate a Y image including a luminance component (Ycomponent) and a C image including a chrominance component (Cb or Crcomponent). The YC conversion processing unit 135 supplies the generatedY image and C image to the painting-style conversion processing unit136. Hereinafter, the pixel values of the pixel at the position p in theimage data output from the YC conversion processing unit 135 arerepresented by [Y(p), C(p)], where Y(p) denotes the value of theluminance component in the Y image, and C(p) denotes the value of thechrominance component in the C image. Hereinafter, furthermore, the Cbcomponent in the C image is represented by Cb(p) and the Cr component inthe C image is represented by Cr(p).

The painting-style conversion processing unit 136 performs apainting-style conversion process on the input image supplied from theYC conversion processing unit 135, that is, the Y image and C image, toobtain an image modified to have a painting style, and supplies theobtained image to the LCD driver 108 or the CODEC 110, if necessary, asan image to be saved. The input image is not limited to the Y image andthe C image. The painting-style conversion processing unit 136 isconfigured to calculate, for example, a modification characteristic forgenerating a pointillist-style spatial pattern or a spatial pattern ofimpressionistic brush strokes, and to convert the input image into animage having a painting style in accordance with the modificationcharacteristic.

The modification characteristic indicates information for modifying aninput image using a modification characteristic which is randomlydifferent for each pixel position, and is a characteristic fordistributing each pixel over a two-dimensional distribution area whosesize and direction is randomly different. The modificationcharacteristic for generating a pointillist-style spatial pattern is atwo-dimensional modification characteristic for an area formed of abasic pattern of a simple shape (for example, circle, polygon), and isgenerated using a random pattern image and a predetermined search range.In accordance with the two-dimensional modification characteristic, theinput image is modified into a pointillistic image.

The modification characteristic for generating a spatial pattern of animpressionistic brush stroke is a one-dimensional modificationcharacteristic, and is generated using a search range determined frominformation on the stroke direction. In accordance with theone-dimensional modification characteristic, the pointillistic imagemodified in accordance with the two-dimensional modificationcharacteristic is further modified into an image with a long brushstroke.

Example Configuration of Painting-Style Conversion Processing Unit

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example configuration of thepainting-style conversion processing unit 136. The painting-styleconversion processing unit 136 illustrated in FIG. 3 is configured tocalculate a modification characteristic for generating apointillist-style spatial pattern (hereinafter also referred to as a“pointillistic pattern”, as appropriate), and modifies the input imageusing the calculated modification characteristic.

The painting-style conversion processing unit 136 includes amodification processing unit 141 and a pointillistic modificationcharacteristic calculation unit 142.

The modification processing unit 141 is supplied with an input imagefrom the YC conversion processing unit 135 and a modificationcharacteristic map from the pointillistic modification characteristiccalculation unit 142. The modification processing unit 141 modifies theinput image supplied from the YC conversion processing unit 135 inaccordance with the modification characteristic represented by themodification characteristic map supplied from the pointillisticmodification characteristic calculation unit 142, and supplies themodified image to the downstream as an output image.

The pointillistic modification characteristic calculation unit 142 issupplied with, for example, a random pattern and a search range from theCPU 112 or the input device 113 illustrated in FIG. 1 or any othersuitable device. The pointillistic modification characteristiccalculation unit 142 calculates a modification characteristic forgenerating a pointillist-style spatial pattern using the supplied randompattern and search range. That is, the pointillistic modificationcharacteristic calculation unit 142 calculates a modificationcharacteristic (relative position, positional relationship) into a pixelfor which the random pattern exhibits a minimum value in an area definedby the search range.

The pointillistic modification characteristic calculation unit 142supplies the calculated modification characteristic to the modificationprocessing unit 141 as a modification characteristic map.

Example Configuration of Pointillistic Modification CharacteristicCalculation Unit

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an example configuration of thepointillistic modification characteristic calculation unit 142. In theexample illustrated in FIG. 4, the pointillistic modificationcharacteristic calculation unit 142 includes a low-pass filter (LPF)151, a minimum value coordinate detection unit 152, and a modificationcharacteristic calculation unit 153.

An image representing a random pattern is supplied to the LPF 151. Therandom pattern may have any size. For example, if the random pattern hasa smaller size than the input image, a plurality of patterns may bearranged in a systematic manner like tiles.

The LPF 151 cuts off the high-frequency component of the random-patternimage, and supplies the random-pattern image whose high-frequencycomponent has been cut off to the minimum value coordinate detectionunit 152.

An area representing the search range is supplied to the minimum valuecoordinate detection unit 152. A circle with a plus (+) mark at thecenter thereof, which is illustrated in FIG. 4 on the right side of the“search range” input to the minimum value coordinate detection unit 152,represents a search range centered on a given pixel (indicated by theplus (+) mark). The search range corresponds to the range of dots(circular area) rendered with a pointillist technique. For example, aplurality of search ranges having different sizes may be provided andswitched for use depending on each area of the input image.

The minimum value coordinate detection unit 152 detects the coordinates(position) of the pixel having the minimum value in the area defined bythe search range for the selected pixel. The minimum value in the areadefined by the search range is hereinafter also referred to as a “localminimum value”. The minimum value coordinate detection unit 152 suppliesthe coordinates of the selected pixel and the detected coordinates tothe modification characteristic calculation unit 153. As describedabove, a circle with a plus (+) mark at the center thereof, which isillustrated in FIG. 4 below the “coordinates” output from the minimumvalue coordinate detection unit 21, represents a search range, and theplus (+) mark other than the plus (+) mark at the center of the searchrange represents the coordinates of the pixel having the minimum valuein the search range.

The modification characteristic calculation unit 153 calculates thedifference between the coordinates of the selected pixel and thedetected coordinates in order to generate a pointillist-style spatialpattern, and supplies the relative position representing the calculateddifference to the modification processing unit 141 as a modificationcharacteristic map. In FIG. 4, an arrow shown below the “relativeposition” output from the modification characteristic calculation unit153 represents the relative position. This output (relative position) isdefined for each pixel in the input image.

A specific description will be given with reference to FIG. 5. In theexample illustrated in FIG. 5, input images 161 to be input to themodification processing unit 141 are illustrated. The left input image161 in FIG. 5 has a pixel 162 having a local minimum value. Since themodification characteristic represents the position of an input pixelselected in the modification process, arrows indicating modificationcharacteristics 164 in the example illustrated in FIG. 5 are oriented inthe direction opposite to the pixel value distribution direction in themodification process.

As indicated by an arrow 1, modification is applied to neighboringpixels (pixels in a search range area 163) of the pixel 162 on the inputimage 161 in accordance with the modification characteristics 164, andthe value of the pixel 162 is output. As a result, as illustrated in theright input image 161 in FIG. 5, which is indicated by an arrow 2, thevalue of the pixel 162 is spread (or distributed) over the search rangearea 163 in the input image 161.

That is, the modification characteristic calculation unit 153 calculatesthe modification characteristics 164 with which the value of the pixel162 having a local minimum value on the input image 161 to be input tothe modification processing unit 141 is spread (or distributed) over thesearch range area 163.

Then, the modification processing unit 141 modifies the input image todistribute the value of the pixel 162 having a local minimum value overthe search range area 163 in accordance with the calculated modificationcharacteristics 164.

The modification characteristics 164, that is, the modificationcharacteristics of the individual pixels, are given ordinal rank. If thesearch range area 163 is not affected by other local minimum values, asindicated by the search range area 163, a pointillist style (or acircular shape) is used. If the search range area 163 has a portion thatoverlaps any other smaller local minimum value area, a deformed shape,rather than a circular shape, part of which is lacking due to themodification characteristic of a pixel having another local minimumvalue, is used. This may imply that a modification characteristiccreated from a smaller local minimum value represents a brush strokelying on top of an upper layer (top surface side). A brush stroke on alower layer is hidden by a brush stroke on an upper layer.

While the basic shape is basically circular as indicated by the area163, in actuality, the modification processing unit 141 modifies theinput image so as to distribute the value of a pixel located in a lowerlayer over such a deformed shape as described above. Applyingmodification to all the pixels allows an observer to perceive thedeformed shape as a circular aggregate (or as being pointillistic)because a circular area as a modification characteristic result ofpixels located on the top layer is located on the side nearer theobserver. This holds true for a brush stroke image (image with a longbrush stroke), which will be described below with reference to FIG. 21and the subsequent drawings, although the description is omitted.

While pointillist-style rendering has been described in the context of acircular area, any shape of rendering which can be eventually perceivedas being pointillistic, other than a circle or an ellipse, such as apolygon or a rectangle-like shape, may also be used.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 4 described above, the pointillisticmodification characteristic calculation unit 142 includes the LPF 151.However, the LPF 151 may be removed because a modificationcharacteristic map is output but an image is not output from thepointillistic modification characteristic calculation unit 142.

Example Configuration of Modification Processing Unit

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating an example configuration of themodification processing unit 141. In the example illustrated in FIG. 6,the modification processing unit 141 includes a modification unit 171.The modification unit 171 is the minimum unit of an image processingapparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

The modification unit 171 is supplied with an input image to bemodified, from the YC conversion processing unit 135. The modificationunit 171 is also supplied with a modification characteristic map fromthe pointillistic modification characteristic calculation unit 142.

The modification unit 171 modifies the input image in accordance withthe modification characteristic (relative position) represented by themodification characteristic map, and outputs the modified output imageto the downstream. In response to the input of modificationcharacteristics for producing effects of a pointillist style, themodification unit 171 performs a pointillist-style process.

Flow of Image Processing

Next, image processing executed by the DSP 106 of the digital videocamera 100 will be described with reference to a flowchart illustratedin FIG. 7. The image processing is started, for example, when imagecapture using the digital video camera 100 illustrated in FIG. 1 isstarted and the supply of image data (mosaic image) from the A/Dconverter 105 to the DSP 106 is started. The image data supplied to theDSP 106 is stored in the internal memory (not illustrated) of the DSP106.

In step S101, the white balance processing unit 131 reads a mosaicimage. Specifically, the white balance processing unit 131 reads themosaic image of a beginning frame stored in the internal memory (notillustrated) of the DSP 106.

In step S102, the white balance processing unit 131 adjusts the whitebalance of the acquired mosaic image, and supplies the resulting mosaicimage to the demosaic processing unit 132.

In step S103, the demosaic processing unit 132 performs a demosaicprocess. That is, the demosaic processing unit 132 performs a demosaicprocess on the mosaic image supplied from the white balance processingunit 131 to generate RGB images, and supplies the RGB images to the tonemapping processing unit 133.

In step S104, the tone mapping processing unit 133 performs a tonemapping process to correct the signal levels of the RGB images suppliedfrom the demosaic processing unit 132. Then, the tone mapping processingunit 133 supplies the RGB images whose signal levels have been correctedto the gamma correction processing unit 134.

In step S105, the gamma correction processing unit 134 performs gammacorrection on the RGB images supplied from the tone mapping processingunit 133, and supplies the resulting RGB images to the YC conversionprocessing unit 135.

In step S106, the YC conversion processing unit 135 performs YCconversion processing. For example, the YC conversion processing unit135 performs YC matrix processing and chroma-component band limiting onthe RGB images supplied from the gamma correction processing unit 134 togenerate the Y image and the C image from the RGB images. The YCconversion processing unit 135 supplies the Y image and the C image tothe painting-style conversion processing unit 136.

In step S107, the painting-style conversion processing unit 136 performsa painting-style conversion process. The details of the painting-styleconversion process will be described below with reference to FIG. 8.

In step S108, the painting-style conversion processing unit 136 outputsan image converted to have a painting style to the LCD driver 108 or theCODEC 110 as an image to be saved.

In accordance with the output of the image, for example, the LCD driver108 converts the image data supplied from the DSP 106 into an analogimage signal, and supplies the analog image signal to the LCD 109 todisplay an image based on the image signal.

Alternatively, in accordance with the output of the image, for example,the CODEC 110 encodes the image data supplied from the DSP 106 using apredetermined method, and records the encoded image data onto the memory111.

Accordingly, the digital video camera 100 performs image processing.

Flow of Painting-Style Conversion Process

Next, the painting-style conversion process in step S107 in FIG. 7 willbe described with reference to a flowchart illustrated in FIG. 8.

A random pattern and a search range are supplied to the pointillisticmodification characteristic calculation unit 142 from, for example, theCPU 112 or the input device 113 illustrated in FIG. 1 or any othersuitable device.

In step S111, the pointillistic modification characteristic calculationunit 142 calculates a modification characteristic for generating apointillistic pattern that is a pointillist-style spatial pattern, usingthe supplied random pattern and search range. The modificationcharacteristic calculation process will be described below withreference to FIG. 9. The pointillistic modification characteristiccalculation unit 142 supplies the calculated modification characteristicto the modification processing unit 141 as a modification characteristicmap.

Further, the modification processing unit 141 is supplied with an inputimage from the YC conversion processing unit 135.

In step S112, the modification processing unit 141 modifies the inputimage supplied from the YC conversion processing unit 135 in accordancewith the modification characteristic represented by the modificationcharacteristic map supplied from the pointillistic modificationcharacteristic calculation unit 142. The modification process will bedescribed below with reference to FIG. 11. The modification processingunit 141 supplies the modified image to the downstream as an outputimage.

Flow of Modification Characteristic Calculation Process

Next, the modification characteristic calculation process in step S111in FIG. 8 will be described with reference to a flowchart illustrated inFIG. 9.

In step S121, the LPF 151 receives the random pattern, and the minimumvalue coordinate detection unit 152 receives the search range.

In step S122, the LPF 151 low-pass filters the image of the randompattern, and supplies the low-pass filtered image to the minimum valuecoordinate detection unit 152.

In step S123, the minimum value coordinate detection unit 152 searchesfor the position (coordinates) of the pixel having the minimum valueamong the neighboring pixels (in the area defined by the search range)of each pixel, and supplies the obtained coordinates to the modificationcharacteristic calculation unit 153.

In step S124, the modification characteristic calculation unit 153calculates a modification characteristic (relative position) for thefound position of the pixel having the minimum value from the pixels tobe searched, and outputs the calculated modification characteristic tothe modification unit 171 as a modification characteristic map.

The processing of steps S123 and S124 described above is performed on apixel-by-pixel basis, and a detailed description thereof will be madewith reference to FIG. 10. FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating apixel-by-pixel modification characteristic calculation process.

In step S131, the minimum value coordinate detection unit 152 selects anunprocessed pixel in the image supplied from the LPF 151. In step S132,the minimum value coordinate detection unit 152 determines a searchrange centered on the selected pixel on the basis of the supplied searchrange.

In step S133, the minimum value coordinate detection unit 152 searchesfor the pixel having the minimum value from an area defined by thesearch range centered on the selected pixel. The minimum valuecoordinate detection unit 152 supplies the coordinates of the selectedpixel and the coordinates of the detected pixel having the minimum valueto the modification characteristic calculation unit 153.

In step S134, the modification characteristic calculation unit 153calculates the difference between the position of the pixel having theminimum value and the position of the selected pixel using thecoordinate information supplied from the minimum value coordinatedetection unit 152, and stores a relative position indicating thecalculated difference in a modification characteristic map.

In step S135, the minimum value coordinate detection unit 152 determineswhether or not there is an unprocessed pixel. If it is determined thatthere is an unprocessed pixel, the process returns to step S131 and thesubsequent processing is repeated.

If it is determined in step S135 that there is no unprocessed pixel, thepixel-by-pixel modification characteristic calculation process ends.

Flow of Modification Process

Next, the modification process in step S112 in FIG. 8 will be describedwith reference to a flowchart illustrated in FIG. 11.

The modification unit 171 is supplied with an input image to be modifiedfrom the YC conversion processing unit 135. The modification unit 171 isalso supplied with a modification characteristic map from thepointillistic modification characteristic calculation unit 142.

In step S141, the modification unit 171 selects an unprocessed pixel inthe input image. In step S142, the modification unit 171 acquires themodification characteristic (relative position) (for example, themodification characteristics 164 illustrated in FIG. 5) for the selectedpixel from the modification characteristic (relative position) indicatedby the modification characteristic map.

In step S143, the modification unit 171 outputs, instead of the selectedpixel, the target input pixel (for example, the pixel 162 illustrated inFIG. 5 having the minimum value) indicated by the acquired modificationcharacteristic. That is, the pixel value of the pixel having the minimumvalue is output instead of the pixel value of the selected pixel.

In step S144, the modification unit 171 determines whether or not thereis an unprocessed pixel. If it is determined that there is anunprocessed pixel, the process returns to step S141 and the subsequentprocessing is repeated.

If it is determined in step S144 that there is no unprocessed pixel, themodification process ends.

Accordingly, a modification characteristic for generating apointillist-style spatial pattern is calculated, and the input image ismodified using the calculated modification characteristic. That is, apixel value is distributed in accordance with the calculatedmodification characteristic. Thus, a pointillist-style image can beeasily and quickly obtained.

Another Example Configuration of Painting-Style Conversion ProcessingUnit

FIG. 12 is a block diagram illustrating an example configuration of thepainting-style conversion processing unit 136. The painting-styleconversion processing unit 136 illustrated in FIG. 12 is an example ofan extended version of the painting-style conversion processing unit 136illustrated in FIG. 3, and has a configuration capable of adjusting thestrength of an output brush stroke (or touch).

Similarly to the painting-style conversion processing unit 136illustrated in FIG. 3, the painting-style conversion processing unit 136illustrated in FIG. 12 includes a modification processing unit 141 and apointillistic modification characteristic calculation unit 142.

The painting-style conversion processing unit 136 illustrated in FIG. 12further includes a jitter adding unit 181 and a sharpening processingunit 182.

In the painting-style conversion processing unit 136, the jitter addingunit 181 is located upstream of the modification processing unit 141,and the sharpening processing unit 182 is located downstream of themodification processing unit 141.

The input image supplied from the YC conversion processing unit 135 isfed to the jitter adding unit 181. A random pattern is also supplied tothe jitter adding unit 181 from, for example, the CPU 112 illustrated inFIG. 1 or any other suitable device. The jitter adding unit 181 appliesjitter to the input image using the random pattern, and supplies theimage with jitter applied thereto to the modification processing unit141.

The modification processing unit 141 modifies the image with jitterapplied thereto, which is supplied from the jitter adding unit 181, inaccordance with the modification characteristic map supplied from thepointillistic modification characteristic calculation unit 142, andsupplies the modified image to the sharpening processing unit 182.

The sharpening processing unit 182 sharpens the modified image, andsupplies the sharpened image to the downstream as an output image.

With the above configuration, the strength of jitter can be adjusted andthe variation in the colors of pointillist dots can be increased,resulting in the contrast between dots being increased and strong brushstrokes being obtained. That is, the strength of a brush stroke can beadjusted using two characteristics: the contrast between dots and theclarity of boundaries.

Example Configuration of Sharpening Processing Unit

FIG. 13 is a block diagram illustrating an example configuration of thesharpening processing unit 182.

The sharpening processing unit 182 illustrated in FIG. 13 includes ahigh-pass filter 191, a subtractor 192, a multiplier 193, and an adder194.

The signal of the image supplied from the modification processing unit141 is input to the high-pass filter 191 and the adder 194. Thehigh-pass filter 191 is supplied with a filter coefficient and the likefrom the CPU 112 or the input device 113 illustrated in FIG. 1 or anyother suitable device. The high-pass filter 191 sets a filtercharacteristic in accordance with the filter coefficient and the like.The high-pass filter 191 high-pass filters the signal of the input imageusing the set filter characteristic, and outputs the filteredhigh-frequency component signal to the multiplier 193.

The subtractor 192 is supplied with 1 and a gain from the CPU 112 or theinput device 113 illustrated in FIG. 1 or any other suitable device. Thesubtractor 192 subtracts 1 from the gain, and outputs the resultingvalue to the multiplier 193.

The multiplier 193 multiplies the high-frequency component signalsupplied from the high-pass filter 191 by the value obtained bysubtracting 1 from the gain to emphasize the high-frequency component bythe gain, and outputs the high-frequency component signal emphasized bythe gain to the adder 194.

The adder 194 combines the signal of the input image and the emphasizedhigh-frequency component signal to obtain a composite image, and outputsthe composite image to the modification processing unit 141.

Here, in the sharpening process for emphasizing a brush stroke, thefilter characteristic (i.e., frequency range) of the high-pass filter191 is set in accordance with the characteristics (e.g., strength, etc.)of the brush stroke.

For example, the filter characteristic for the frequency band suitablefor “emphasis of the brush stroke” is set as illustrated in FIG. 14. Inthe example illustrated in FIG. 14, the strength of the brush stroke isexpressed via the type of painting-style process and the pointillist dotradius. That is, the pointillist dot radius and the filtercharacteristic correlate with each other.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 14, if the painting-style process isa pointillist-style process and the search range (pointillist dotradius) is 2 pixel long, the filter characteristic (cut-off frequency)is set to 4 pixels. If the painting-style process is a pointillist-styleprocess and the search range (pointillist dot radius) is 3 pixel long,the filter characteristic (cut-off frequency) is set to 5 pixels.

Furthermore, if the painting-style process is a pointillist-styleprocess and the search range (pointillist dot radius) is 4 pixel long,the filter characteristic (cut-off frequency) is set to 7 pixels. Inaddition, if the painting-style process is an oil painting process andthe search range (pointillist dot radius) is 2 pixel long, the filtercharacteristic (cut-off frequency) is set to 5 pixels.

The oil painting process is a process including the pointillist-styleprocess and the stroke process, which will be described below withreference to FIG. 21 and the following drawings.

In order to adjust the strength of a brush stroke, a memory that holdsintermediate results is provided. Holding intermediate results in thememory enables high-speed reprocessing. For example, if only thesharpening processing unit 182 is to be controlled, the output of themodification processing unit 141 may be held in the memory and may berecycled. In addition, for example, if the strength of jitter to beapplied by the jitter adding unit 181 is to be adjusted, the output fromthe pointillistic modification characteristic calculation unit 142 maybe held in the memory and may be recycled. Consequently, part of thearithmetic operation for adjusting the strength of the brush stroke maybe removed, resulting in the speed of the operation being increased.

The appearance of a brush stroke in the output image can also be changedby, for example, changing the size of the search range in addition tothe strength of the brush stroke. For example, as illustrated in FIG.15, as the size of the search range increases, the pixel size of thefilter characteristic also increases, and an image with a rough brushstroke may be obtained.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 15, images A, B, and C which aremodified so that the search range is sequentially increased (widened)gradually from the left to the right are illustrated. That is, of thethree images, the image A with the smallest search range is an imagewith the most precise brush strokes, and the image C with the largestsearch range is an image with the roughest brush strokes. The brushstrokes of the image B with the search range larger than that of theimage A and smaller than that of the image C are rougher than those ofthe image A and are more precise than those of the image C.

An adjustment unit for adjusting the search range to be input to thepointillistic modification characteristic calculation unit 142 in themanner described above may be included in the pointillistic modificationcharacteristic calculation unit 142 or the painting-style conversionprocessing unit 136.

Flow of Painting-Style Conversion Process

Next, the painting-style conversion process executed by thepainting-style conversion processing unit 136 illustrated in FIG. 12will be described with reference to a flowchart illustrated in FIG. 16.The painting-style conversion process is an example of thepainting-style conversion process in step S107 in FIG. 7, and is anotherexample of the painting-style conversion process in FIG. 8.

The pointillistic modification characteristic calculation unit 142 issupplied with a random pattern and a search range from, for example, theCPU 112 or the input device 113 illustrated in FIG. 1 or any othersuitable device.

In step S161, the pointillistic modification characteristic calculationunit 142 calculates a modification characteristic for generating apointillistic pattern that is a pointillist-style spatial pattern, usingthe supplied random pattern and search range. The modificationcharacteristic calculation process is basically similar to themodification characteristic calculation process described above withreference to FIG. 9, and a description thereof is thus omitted becauseit is redundant.

The pointillistic modification characteristic calculation unit 142supplies the calculated modification characteristic to the modificationprocessing unit 141 as a modification characteristic map.

In step S162, the jitter adding unit 181 adds (or applies) jitter to theinput image supplied from the YC conversion processing unit 135 usingthe random pattern supplied from the CPU 112 or any other suitabledevice. The jitter adding unit 181 supplies an image with jitter appliedthereto to the modification processing unit 141.

In step S163, the modification processing unit 141 modifies the inputimage supplied from the jitter adding unit 181 in accordance with themodification characteristic map supplied from the pointillisticmodification characteristic calculation unit 142. This modificationprocess is basically similar to the modification process described abovewith reference to FIG. 11, and a description thereof is thus omittedbecause it is redundant. The modification processing unit 141 suppliesthe modified image to the sharpening processing unit 182.

In step S164, the sharpening processing unit 182 sharpens the modifiedimage. The sharpening process will be described below with reference toFIG. 17. The image sharpened in the processing of step S164 is suppliedto the downstream as an output image.

Flow of Sharpening Process

Next, the sharpening process in step S164 in FIG. 16 will be describedwith reference to a flowchart illustrated in FIG. 17.

In step S181, the high-pass filter 191 sets a filter characteristic inaccordance with the type of the painting-style process given in theexample illustrated in FIG. 14 described above or in accordance with thenumber of taps.

In step S182, the high-pass filter 191 extracts the high-frequencycomponent from the signal of the input image using the set filtercharacteristic, and outputs the extracted high-frequency componentsignal to the multiplier 193.

In step S183, the multiplier 193 multiplies the high-frequency componentsignal supplied from the high-pass filter 191 by the value obtained fromthe subtractor 192 by subtracting 1 from the gain to emphasize thehigh-frequency component by the gain. The multiplier 193 outputs thehigh-frequency component signal emphasized by the gain to the adder 194.

In step S184, the adder 194 combines the signal of the input image andthe emphasized high-frequency component signal to obtain a compositeimage, and outputs the composite image to the modification processingunit 141.

Accordingly, the strength of a brush stroke in an image obtained afterthe pointillist-style process has been completed can also be adjusted.That is, the strength of a brush stroke can be adjusted using twocharacteristics: the contrast between dots and the clarity ofboundaries. In other words, the painting-style conversion processingunit 136 may include an adjustment unit capable of adjusting thestrength of a brush stroke using the above two characteristics.

Adjusting the appearance of a brush stroke is not intuitive to users whoare not familiar with image processing. To allow even users who are notfamiliar with image processing to easily adjust the appearance of abrush stroke, user-selectable adjustment buttons as illustrated in FIG.18 or 19 with which users can more intuitively adjust the appearance ofa brush stroke are presented. In accordance with selection of anadjustment button by a user, for example, a value obtained from theinput device 113 or the like is converted into internal parameters ofjitter, sharpening, and search range. The conversion is performed by,for example, the adjustment unit described above or the like, using alinear function or a table operation.

FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating the relationships between adjustmentbuttons which are selectable by a user and parameters of search ranges(pointillist dot radii), amounts of jitter (strength), and sharpening(high-pass gain).

In the example illustrated in FIG. 18, when a user selects a “strongeffect” button, the selected user input is converted into parameters of:a search range of 5 pixels, a jitter of ±32, and a sharpening of ×1.5.That is, an input of the “strong effect” button is converted intoparameters to obtain a strong brush stroke.

When a user selects an “intermediate effect” button, the selected userinput is converted into parameters of: a search range of 3 pixels, ajitter of ±16, and a sharpening of ×1.4. That is, an input of the“intermediate effect” button is converted into parameters to obtain anintermediate brush stroke.

When a user selects a “weak effect” button, the selected user input isconverted into parameters of: a search range of 2 pixels, a jitter of 0,and a sharpening of ×1.0. That is, an input of the “weak effect” buttonis converted into parameters to obtain a weak brush stroke.

FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating another example of the relationshipsbetween adjustment buttons which are selectable by a user and parametersof search ranges (pointillist dot radii), amounts of jitter (strength),and sharpening (high-pass gain).

In the example illustrated in FIG. 19, when a user selects a “precise”button, the selected user input is converted into parameters of: asearch range of 2 pixels, a jitter of ±32, and a sharpening of ×1.0.That is, an input of the “precise” button is converted into parametersto obtain a precise brush stroke.

When a user selects a “rough” button, the selected user input isconverted into parameters of: a search range of 5 pixels, a jitter of±16, and a sharpening of ×1.2. That is, an input of the “rough” buttonis converted into parameters to obtain a rough brush stroke.

When a user selects a “clear” button, the selected user input isconverted into parameters of: a search range of 3 pixels, a jitter of±32, and a sharpening of ×1.5. That is, an input of the “clear” buttonis converted into parameters to obtain a clear brush stroke.

The use (display control) of the above adjustment buttons allows a userto intuitively adjust the appearance of a brush stroke.

In the painting-style conversion processing unit 136 illustrated in FIG.3 or 12 described above, the modification processing unit 141 and thepointillistic modification characteristic calculation unit 142 areillustrated as separate blocks. However, the modification processingunit 141 and the pointillistic modification characteristic calculationunit 142 may be implemented as a single block. While each of themodification processing unit 141 and the pointillistic modificationcharacteristic calculation unit 142 includes a memory (not illustrated)for storing a modification characteristic map, it is no longer necessaryto save a modification characteristic map in a memory, resulting insaving of a processing memory.

While a process in which the generation of a modification characteristicmap and the application of the corresponding modification characteristicare combined has been described, a modification characteristic map maybe created in advance, stored in a memory, and used. That is, thegeneration of a modification characteristic map and the application ofthe modification characteristic map may be separated. The memory may bean internal or external memory.

Another Example Configuration of Painting-Style Conversion ProcessingUnit

FIG. 20 is a block diagram illustrating an example configuration of thepainting-style conversion processing unit 136. The painting-styleconversion processing unit 136 illustrated in FIG. 20 is common to thepainting-style conversion processing unit 136 illustrated in FIG. 3 inthat the painting-style conversion processing unit 136 includes amodification processing unit 141.

The painting-style conversion processing unit 136 illustrated in FIG. 20is different from the painting-style conversion processing unit 136illustrated in FIG. 3 in that the painting-style conversion processingunit 136 illustrated in FIG. 20 includes a memory 195 in place of thepointillistic modification characteristic calculation unit 142.

The memory 195 stores a modification characteristic map that iscalculated in advance by the pointillistic modification characteristiccalculation unit 142 or any other suitable device having theconfiguration illustrated in FIG. 4 and that is included in anotherimage processing apparatus or the like, prior to this processing orprior to the shipment of the apparatus. That is, the modificationcharacteristic map is generated by detecting the coordinates of a pixelhaving a minimum value or a maximum value in a predetermined searchrange for a pixel in a random pattern image and by calculating thepositional relationship between the pixel in the random pattern imageand the pixel whose coordinates have been detected.

The modification processing unit 141 is supplied with an input imagefrom the YC conversion processing unit 135 and with a modificationcharacteristic map from the memory 195. The modification processing unit141 modifies the input image supplied from the YC conversion processingunit 135 in accordance with the modification characteristic representedby the modification characteristic map supplied from the memory 195, andsupplies the modified image to the downstream as an output image.

The painting-style conversion processing unit 136 having theconfiguration illustrated in FIG. 20 can reduce the calculation load forgenerating a modification characteristic map and can reduce theprocessing time.

While a pointillist-style process for modifying an image into apointillistic image has been described, the pointillist-style processdescribed above may not be sufficient to give a brush stroke feel to apointillistic representation on an output image, and may make the outputimage look less like a painting. In addition, the output image mayfurther look less expressive because, for example, it is difficult toexpress impressionistic brush strokes. The term “stroke” refers to themovement of a writing instrument on a writing surface which representsthe movement of an artist's hand, such as an impressionist's hand, asdescribed above, or gives a dynamic feeling of motion (or rhythm) ofbrushwork.

In contrast to the above pointillist-style process, a technique in whichthe pointillist-style process and a process of giving a brush strokeexpression (“brush stroke process”) are used in combination to obtain anoutput image having a more painting-like impression will be described.The process using the pointillist-style process and the brush strokeprocess in combination is hereinafter also referred to as an “oilpainting process”. Hereinafter, merely “stroke” also means a brushstroke.

Second Embodiment Another Example Configuration of Painting-StyleConversion Processing Unit

FIG. 21 is a block diagram illustrating an example configuration of thepainting-style conversion processing unit 136. The painting-styleconversion processing unit 136 illustrated in FIG. 21 is configured tocalculate a modification characteristic for generating apointillist-style spatial pattern, to calculate a modificationcharacteristic for generating a spatial pattern resembling a stroke ofbrush (spatial pattern of stroke), and to modify an input image usingthe calculated modification characteristics.

The painting-style conversion processing unit 136 includes apointillistic modification characteristic calculation unit 201, a strokemodification characteristic calculation unit 202, a modificationprocessing unit 203, a modification processing unit 204, and a strokedirection calculation unit 205.

Similarly to the pointillistic modification characteristic calculationunit 142 illustrated in FIG. 3, the pointillistic modificationcharacteristic calculation unit 201 calculates a modificationcharacteristic for generating a pointillist-style spatial pattern, usingthe random pattern and search range supplied from the CPU 112illustrated in FIG. 1 or any other suitable device. That is, thepointillistic modification characteristic calculation unit 201calculates a modification characteristic (relative position) for a pixelfor which the random pattern exhibits a minimum value in the searchrange. The pointillistic modification characteristic calculation unit201 supplies the calculated modification characteristic to themodification processing unit 203 as a modification characteristic map.

The pointillistic modification characteristic calculation unit 201 isdifferent from the pointillistic modification characteristic calculationunit 142 illustrated in FIG. 3 in that the pointillistic modificationcharacteristic calculation unit 201 outputs a pointillistic patternincluding an image of a local minimum value to the stroke modificationcharacteristic calculation unit 202.

The stroke modification characteristic calculation unit 202 is suppliedwith the image of the pointillistic pattern from the pointillisticmodification characteristic calculation unit 201 and a signal indicatingthe direction of a brush stroke (also referred to as flow vectorinformation) from the stroke direction calculation unit 205.

The stroke modification characteristic calculation unit 202 calculates asearch range using the flow vector, and detects a position at which thesupplied image of the pointillistic pattern has a minimum value in thecalculated search range. After a search for the minimum value has beencompleted, the stroke modification characteristic calculation unit 202calculates a modification characteristic (relative position) for theposition of the pixel having the minimum value, and supplies thecalculated modification characteristic to the modification processingunit 204 as a modification characteristic map.

Similarly to the modification processing unit 141 illustrated in FIG. 3,the modification processing unit 203 has the configuration illustratedin FIG. 6. The modification processing unit 203 modifies the input imagesupplied from the YC conversion processing unit 135 in accordance withthe modification characteristic map supplied from the pointillisticmodification characteristic calculation unit 201, and supplies themodified image (pointillistic image) to the modification processing unit204.

Similarly to the modification processing unit 141 illustrated in FIG. 3,the modification processing unit 204 has the configuration illustratedin FIG. 6. The modification processing unit 204 modifies the input imagesupplied from the modification processing unit 203 in accordance withthe modification characteristic map supplied from the strokemodification characteristic calculation unit 202, and supplies themodified image to the downstream as an output image.

The stroke direction calculation unit 205 calculates informationconcerning a stroke direction which is less susceptible to noise, usingthe input image supplied from the YC conversion processing unit 135. Thestroke direction calculation unit 205 supplies the calculatedinformation concerning the stroke direction to the stroke modificationcharacteristic calculation unit 202. The stroke direction calculationunit 205 may employ a technique such as the technique described by H.Kang in “Flow-based Image Abstraction”, 2009, or the technique disclosedby J. E. Kyprianidis in “Image and Video Abstraction byCoherence-Enhancing Filtering”, 2011.

With the use of flow vectors calculated in the above manner, the strokemodification characteristic calculation unit 202 can obtain adirectionally stable brush stroke, compared to the simple use of theluminance gradient of an image.

Example Configuration of Pointillistic Modification CharacteristicCalculation Unit

FIG. 22 is a block diagram illustrating an example configuration of thepointillistic modification characteristic calculation unit 201. Thepointillistic modification characteristic calculation unit 201illustrated in FIG. 22 includes an LPF 151, a modificationcharacteristic calculation unit 153, and a minimum value coordinatedetection unit 211.

The pointillistic modification characteristic calculation unit 201illustrated in FIG. 22 is common to the pointillistic modificationcharacteristic calculation unit 142 illustrated in FIG. 4 in that thepointillistic modification characteristic calculation unit 201 includesan LPF 151 and a modification characteristic calculation unit 153. Thecommon feature will not be described because it is redundant.

The pointillistic modification characteristic calculation unit 201illustrated in FIG. 22 is different from the pointillistic modificationcharacteristic calculation unit 142 illustrated in FIG. 4 in that thepointillistic modification characteristic calculation unit 201 furtherincludes a minimum value coordinate detection unit 211 in place of theminimum value coordinate detection unit 152.

Similarly to the minimum value coordinate detection unit 152 illustratedin FIG. 4, the minimum value coordinate detection unit 211 detects thecoordinates (position) of a pixel having a minimum value in an areaindicated by the search range for the selected pixel. The minimum valuecoordinate detection unit 211 supplies the coordinates of the selectedpixel and the detected coordinates to the modification characteristiccalculation unit 153.

Unlike the minimum value coordinate detection unit 152 illustrated inFIG. 4, the minimum value coordinate detection unit 211 outputs apointillistic pattern, which is an image of a local minimum value, whoselocal minimum value is spread over the area of the search range to thestroke modification characteristic calculation unit 202.

Example Configuration of Stroke Modification Characteristic CalculationUnit

FIG. 23 is a block diagram illustrating an example configuration of thestroke modification characteristic calculation unit 202. In the exampleillustrated in FIG. 23, the stroke modification characteristiccalculation unit 202 includes a path determination unit 221, a minimumvalue coordinate detection unit 222, and a modification characteristiccalculation unit 223.

The path determination unit 221 is supplied with flow vector informationfrom the stroke direction calculation unit 205 as information concerningthe direction of a brush stroke. The flow vector information is definedfor each pixel, and a set of pieces of flow vector information on animage is hereinafter also referred to as a “flow vector image”, asappropriate. The path determination unit 221 calculates a search rangefrom the flow vector information supplied from the stroke directioncalculation unit 205, and supplies the calculated search range to theminimum value coordinate detection unit 222.

The minimum value coordinate detection unit 222 is further supplied witha pointillistic pattern from the pointillistic modificationcharacteristic calculation unit 201 as an input image. The minimum valuecoordinate detection unit 222 detects the coordinates (position) of apixel for which the pointillistic pattern image exhibits a minimum valuealong a path in the search range. The minimum value coordinate detectionunit 222 supplies the coordinates of the selected pixel and the detectedcoordinates to the modification characteristic calculation unit 223.

The modification characteristic calculation unit 223 calculates thedifference between the coordinates of the selected pixel and thedetected coordinates in order to generate a spatial pattern of a stroke(hereinafter also referred to simply as a “stroke pattern”), andsupplies the relative position indicating the calculated difference tothe modification processing unit 204 as a modification characteristicmap.

A specific description will be given with reference to FIG. 24. In theexample illustrated in FIG. 24, an input image 231 including an area 232having a local minimum value to be input to the minimum value coordinatedetection unit 222 illustrated in FIG. 23 and flow vector information233 to be input to the path determination unit 221 illustrated in FIG.22 are illustrated in the left part of the FIG. 24.

As indicated by an arrow 1, the input image 231 includes a search path235 (arrow) passing through a selected pixel (path origin) 234, whichhas been determined by the path determination unit 221. The minimumvalue coordinate detection unit 222 detects a pixel on the search path235 in the area 232 having a local minimum value of the input image, andsupplies the coordinates of the selected pixel 234 and the coordinatesof the area 232 having the local minimum value on the search path(hereinafter referred to as the “coordinates of the local minimumvalue”) to the modification characteristic calculation unit 223.

As indicated by an arrow 2, the modification characteristic calculationunit 223 calculates the difference 236 between the coordinates of theselected pixel 234 and the coordinates of the local minimum value, andsupplies the relative position indicating the calculated difference 236to the modification processing unit 204 as a modification characteristicmap.

The modification processing unit 204 receives an image 237 in which thepixel having the local minimum value is modified to form the area 232having the local minimum value using the pointillistic pattern. Themodification processing unit 204 modifies the image 237 in accordancewith the modification characteristic map that is the relative positionindicating the difference 236. Accordingly, as indicated by an arrow 3,the area 232 having the local minimum value in the image 237 is expandedto an area 238 which lies along the search path.

That is, in view of modification to be applied throughout the process,as described above with reference to FIG. 5, first, the modificationprocessing unit 203 applies modification to neighboring pixels of thepixel 162 having the local minimum value in the input image 161 inaccordance with the modification characteristics 164, and the value ofthe pixel 162 is spread over the area 163 of the search range (i.e., thepixel value is distributed).

Then, as illustrated in FIG. 24, the modification processing unit 204modifies the pixels (pixels in the area 238 which lies along the searchpath) around the area 232 having the local minimum value, which has beenexpanded by the modification processing unit 203, in the input image inaccordance with the modification characteristic map that is the relativeposition indicating the difference 236, and outputs the pixels in thearea 232. As a result, as indicated in the image 237, the value of thearea 232 is spread over the area 238 which lies along the search path.That is, the modification processing unit 204 modifies the input imageso that the area 232 having the local minimum value, which has beenexpanded by the modification processing unit 203, is expanded to thearea 238 which lies along the search path in accordance with thecalculated modification characteristic 236.

With the above configuration, the value of a pixel at a random positionin an input image can be spread to surroundings, and a brush strokepattern having a length and a width can be generated.

Flow of Painting-Style Conversion Process

Next, the painting-style conversion process performed by thepainting-style conversion processing unit 136 illustrated in FIG. 21will be described with reference to a flowchart illustrated in FIG. 25.The painting-style conversion process in FIG. 25 is an example of thepainting-style conversion process in step S107 in FIG. 7, and is anotherexample of the painting-style conversion processes in FIGS. 8 and 16.

In step S201, the stroke direction calculation unit 205 calculatesinformation concerning a stroke direction which is less susceptible tonoise, using the input image supplied from the YC conversion processingunit 135. The stroke direction calculation unit 205 supplies theinformation concerning the stroke direction to the stroke modificationcharacteristic calculation unit 202.

The pointillistic modification characteristic calculation unit 201 issupplied with a random pattern and a search range from, for example, theCPU 112 or the input device 113 illustrated in FIG. 1 or any othersuitable device. In step S202, the pointillistic modificationcharacteristic calculation unit 201 calculates a modificationcharacteristic for generating a pointillistic pattern. The modificationcharacteristic calculation process is basically substantially similar tothe modification characteristic calculation process described above withreference to FIG. 9, and a detailed description thereof is thus omitted.

However, unlike the pointillistic modification characteristiccalculation unit 142 illustrated in FIG. 3, the pointillisticmodification characteristic calculation unit 201 not only supplies thecalculated modification characteristic to the modification processingunit 141 as a modification characteristic map but also outputs apointillistic pattern including an image of a local minimum value to thestroke modification characteristic calculation unit 202.

The stroke modification characteristic calculation unit 202 is suppliedwith the image of the pointillistic pattern from the pointillisticmodification characteristic calculation unit 201 and a signal indicatingthe direction of a brush stroke (also referred to as a flow vector) fromthe stroke direction calculation unit 205.

In step S203, the stroke modification characteristic calculation unit202 calculates a modification characteristic for generating a brushstroke pattern. This stroke pattern modification characteristiccalculation process will be described below with reference to FIG. 27.

The stroke modification characteristic calculation unit 202 calculates amodification characteristic (relative position) for the position of thepixel having the minimum value, and supplies the calculated modificationcharacteristic to the modification processing unit 204 as a modificationcharacteristic map.

In step S204, the modification processing unit 203 modifies the inputimage supplied from the YC conversion processing unit 135 in accordancewith the pointillistic modification characteristic indicated by themodification characteristic map supplied from the pointillisticmodification characteristic calculation unit 201, and obtains apointillistic image (modified image). The modification processing unit203 supplies the obtained pointillistic image to the modificationprocessing unit 204.

In step S205, the modification processing unit 204 modifies the inputimage (pointillistic image) supplied from the modification processingunit 203 in accordance with the modification characteristic map for thestroke, which has been supplied from the stroke modificationcharacteristic calculation unit 202. Then, the modification processingunit 204 supplies the modified image to the downstream as an outputimage.

Here, the modification process in steps S204 and S205 will bespecifically described with reference to FIG. 26.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 26, an input image 241 to be input tothe modification processing unit 203, a pointillistic image 242 that hasbeen modified by the modification processing unit 203 and that is to beinput to the modification processing unit 204, and an image 243 that hasbeen modified by the modification processing unit 204 are illustrated.

As illustrated in FIG. 26, a pixel 241 a having a local minimum value inthe input image 241 to be input to the modification processing unit 203is spatially spread, as indicated by an area 242 a, through modificationperformed by the modification processing unit 203 (distribution of thepixel value).

Then, as indicated by an area 243 a, the area 242 a is expanded as if itwere scrubbed in the direction of the supplied flow vector throughmodification performed by the modification processing unit 204(distribution of the pixel value).

Thus, pixels are modified in a plane (i.e., two-dimensionally),resulting in a rough stroke pattern (an image with a long brush stroke)being formed.

In steps S204 and S205, the painting-style modification processes areperformed in the above manner.

The details of the modification processes in steps S204 and S205 arebasically similar to those of the modification process described abovewith reference to FIG. 11, and a detailed description thereof is thusomitted due to redundancy.

Next, the stroke pattern modification characteristic process in stepS203 in FIG. 25 will be described with reference to a flowchartillustrated in FIG. 27. This process will be described also withreference to FIG. 28, if necessary.

In step S211, the minimum value coordinate detection unit 222 acquires aunprocessed pixel (at the position P) (hereinafter referred to as the“unprocessed pixel P” or the “pixel P”) and the direction D of a flowvector corresponding to the pixel P.

That is, the minimum value coordinate detection unit 222 acquires theunprocessed pixel P from an input image that is a pointillistic patternsupplied from the pointillistic modification characteristic calculationunit 201. The minimum value coordinate detection unit 222 furtheracquires the direction D of a flow vector corresponding to the pixel Pfrom a search range determined by the path determination unit 221.

The example illustrated in FIG. 28 is an example obtained immediatelyafter the processing of step S216, described below, has been performed.In FIG. 28, P represents the pixel at the origin; Dp, Dp′, Dm, and Dm′denote flow vectors, where the angle between the flow vectors Dp and Dp′and the angle between the flow vectors Dm and Dm′ are 180°; Pp denotes apositive pixel position, and Pm denotes a negative pixel position; andPmin denotes the position of the pixel having the minimum value.

In step S212, the minimum value coordinate detection unit 222 sets Pp toP, Pm to P, Dp to D, Dm to −D, and Pmin to P.

In step S213, the minimum value coordinate detection unit 222 calculatesthe next sampling position. Specifically, the minimum value coordinatedetection unit 222 sets “Pp+Dp” to Pp and “Pm+Dm” to Pm.

In step S214, if I(Pp)<I(Pmin), that is, if the pixel value at Pmin issmaller than the pixel value at Pp, the minimum value coordinatedetection unit 222 updates Pmin with Pp.

In step S215, if I(Pm)<I(Pmin), that is, if the pixel value at Pmin issmaller than the pixel value at Pp, the minimum value coordinatedetection unit 222 updates Pmin with Pm.

In step S216, the minimum value coordinate detection unit 222 acquiresthe directions of the flow vectors Dp′ and Dm′ at Pp and Pm,respectively.

In step S217, the minimum value coordinate detection unit 222 arrangesthe orientations of the flow vectors Dp′ and Dm′, and updates the flowvectors Dp and Dm. Since flow vectors are not sufficient to define thenext tracking direction, it is necessary to arrange the flow vectors.

For example, if the inner product of the flow vectors Dp and Dp′ is lessthan 0 (i.e., Dp·Dp′<0), Dp←−Dp′ is set. If the inner product of theflow vectors Dp and Dp′ is greater than or equal to 0 (i.e., Dp·Dp′≧0),Dp←Dp′ is set. Also, if the inner product of the flow vectors Dm and Dm′is less than 0 (i.e., Dm·Dm′<0), Dm←−Dm′ is set. If the inner product ofthe flow vectors Dm and Dm′ is greater than or equal to 0 (i.e.,Dm·Dm′≧0), Dm←Dm′ is set. Accordingly, the flow vectors are arranged.

In the foregoing description, flow vectors are arranged using innerproducts. However, any other method may be used.

In step S218, the minimum value coordinate detection unit 222 determineswhether or not calculation for the length of the stroke has beencompleted. If it is determined in step S218 that calculation for thelength of the stroke has not been completed yet, the process returns tostep S213 and the subsequent processing is repeated.

If it is determined in step S218 that calculation for the length of thestroke has been completed, the process proceeds to step S219. In stepS219, the modification characteristic calculation unit 223 outputs themodification characteristic (Pmin−P) to the modification processing unit204 as a modification characteristic map.

In step S220, the minimum value coordinate detection unit 222 determineswhether or not calculation for all the pixels in the input image hasbeen completed. If it is determined in step S220 that calculation forall the pixels has not been completed yet, the process returns to stepS211 and the subsequent processing is repeated.

If it is determined in step S220 that calculation for all the pixels hasbeen completed, the stroke pattern modification characteristic processends.

EXPLANATION OF ADVANTAGES

The above modification processes can reduce the processing time,compared to the methods that involve repeated rendering of brush strokesto obtain desired output images (hereinafter referred to as the“repetitive processing methods”), described above, as proposed in thepatent literature given in the background section and by A. Hertzmann inthe non-patent literature given in the background section.

In the techniques proposed in the patent literature given in thebackground section and by A. Hertzmann in the non-patent literaturegiven in the background section, furthermore, the direction of brushstrokes is perpendicular to the gradient (luminance gradient) of thesignal level at the target pixel. For this reason, if a brush with anelliptical long stroke is used, noise contained in the image mayfluctuate the direction of the brush strokes, and beautiful strokes maynot be obtained. In addition, if a circular brush is used (i.e., for apointillist style), such noise may not affect the direction of the brushstrokes; however, each stroke of the brush may not be expressed,resulting in poor feeling of a painting.

In contrast to the above existing techniques, the present technology,because of using flow vectors, can provide directionally stable brushstrokes, compared to the use of the luminance gradient of an image.

As algorithms other than the repetitive processing methods describedabove, a technique by which a shift characteristic, which allows amaximum value on a line segment path to be shifted with respect to theoutput target pixel, can be applied to an input image, is described byR. Lukac in “Computational Photography: Methods and Applications,” CRCPress, 2011, pp. 386-387. This technique is called Cross ContinuousGlass Patterns (CCGP). The CCGP technique can rapidly apply a brushstroke pattern to any input image.

FIG. 29 is a diagram illustrating an existing CCGP technique forcomparison with an embodiment of the present technology. In the exampleillustrated in FIG. 29, an input image 251, an image 252 undergoingmodification processing, and an output image 253 are illustrated.

In the existing CCGP technique, as indicated by an arrow 252 a, a givenpixel 251 a in the input image 251 is subjected to length modificationto obtain the output image 253 in which the pixel 251 a has beenmodified to form a line 253 a.

This CCGP technique enables curved modification but can only provide athin brush stroke pattern. That is, while it is possible to adjust thelength of brush strokes, it is difficult to adjust the width (orthickness) of brush strokes. For this reason, only a limited range ofpainting effects is feasible, such as incapability of expressing apointillist style or difficulty in adjusting an effect.

In an example illustrated in FIG. 30, an image 261 undergoingmodification processing and an output image 262 according to anembodiment of the present technology are illustrated.

In contrast to the CCGP technique described above with reference to FIG.29, an embodiment of the present technology makes it possible togenerate modification characteristics 261 a for spreading the pixel 251a in the input image 251 illustrated in FIG. 29 to a planartwo-dimensional area 262 a having a length and a width. Therefore, theoutput image 262 in which the pixel 251 a has been modified to form thetwo-dimensional area 262 a can be obtained.

That is, in an embodiment of the present technology, since a brushstroke pattern can have a width, it is possible to provide a morepainting-like expression than with the CCGP technique. In addition, byadjusting the size of pointillist dots and the length of a brush strokepattern, it is possible to easily and quickly achieve a wide variety ofbrush strokes such as pointillistic strokes resembling the brushwork ofartists, for example, Georges Seurat, and impressionistic long brushstrokes (such as brush stroke process).

FIG. 31 illustrates an example of a search range used in the pathdetermination unit 221. The path determination unit 221 can set a shortsearch range for a stroke pattern, thereby obtaining a pointillisticpattern with short brush strokes, as illustrated in the left part ofFIG. 31. On the other hand, the path determination unit 221 can set along search range for a stroke pattern, thereby obtaining a pattern withlong brush strokes, as illustrated in the right part of FIG. 31.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 31, modified images A, B, and C withthe search range sequentially reduced gradually from the left to theright are illustrated. That is, of the three images, the image A withthe shortest search range is an image with the shortest brush strokes,and the image C with the longest search range is an image with thelongest brush strokes. The brush strokes of the image B with the searchrange longer than that of the image A and shorter than that of the imageC are longer than that of the image A and are shorter than that of theimage C.

An adjustment unit capable of setting a search range that is determinedby the path determination unit 221 in the manner described above may beincluded in the stroke modification characteristic calculation unit 202or the painting-style conversion processing unit 136.

In the foregoing description, by way of example, the pointillisticmodification process and the stroke modification process are performed.However, as described just below, a modification process may beperformed once by combining modification characteristics.

Another Example Configuration of Painting-Style Conversion ProcessingUnit

FIG. 32 is a block diagram illustrating an example configuration of thepainting-style conversion processing unit 136.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 32, the painting-style conversionprocessing unit 136 includes a pointillistic modification characteristiccalculation unit 201, a stroke modification characteristic calculationunit 202, a stroke direction calculation unit 205, a modificationcharacteristic combining unit 301, and a modification processing unit302.

The painting-style conversion processing unit 136 illustrated in FIG. 32is common to the painting-style conversion processing unit 136illustrated in FIG. 21 in that the painting-style conversion processingunit 136 includes a pointillistic modification characteristiccalculation unit 201, a stroke modification characteristic calculationunit 202, and a stroke direction calculation unit 205. The commonfeature will not be described because it is redundant.

The painting-style conversion processing unit 136 illustrated in FIG. 32is different from the painting-style conversion processing unit 136illustrated in FIG. 21 in that the painting-style conversion processingunit 136 illustrated in FIG. 32 further includes a modificationcharacteristic combining unit 301 and includes a modification processingunit 302 in place of the modification processing units 203 and 204.

The modification characteristic combining unit 301 receives thepointillistic modification characteristic calculated by thepointillistic modification characteristic calculation unit 201 and thestroke modification characteristic calculated by the stroke modificationcharacteristic calculation unit 202, and combines the twocharacteristics. The characteristics are combined by, for example,addition of modification characteristic vectors. The modificationcharacteristic combining unit 301 supplies the combined modificationcharacteristic to the modification processing unit 302 as a modificationcharacteristic map.

Similarly to the modification processing unit 141 illustrated in FIG. 3,the modification processing unit 302 has the configuration illustratedin FIG. 6. The modification processing unit 302 modifies the input imagesupplied from the YC conversion processing unit 135 in accordance withthe modification characteristic map supplied from the modificationcharacteristic combining unit 301, and supplies the modified image tothe downstream as an output image.

Flow of Painting-Style Conversion Process

Next, the painting-style conversion process performed by thepainting-style conversion processing unit 136 illustrated in FIG. 32will be described with reference to a flowchart illustrated in FIG. 33.The painting-style conversion process illustrated in FIG. 33 is anexample of the painting-style conversion process in step S107 in FIG. 7,and is another example of the painting-style conversion processes inFIGS. 8, 16, and 25.

In step S301, the stroke direction calculation unit 205 calculatesinformation concerning a stroke direction which is less susceptible tonoise, using the input image supplied from the YC conversion processingunit 135. The stroke direction calculation unit 205 supplies theinformation (signal) concerning the stroke direction to the strokemodification characteristic calculation unit 202.

The pointillistic modification characteristic calculation unit 201 issupplied with a random pattern and a search range from, for example, theCPU 112 or the input device 113 illustrated in FIG. 1 or any othersuitable device. In step S302, the pointillistic modificationcharacteristic calculation unit 201 calculates a modificationcharacteristic for generating a pointillistic pattern. The modificationcharacteristic calculation process is basically substantially similar tothe modification characteristic calculation process described above withreference to FIG. 9, and a detailed description thereof is thus omitted.

However, unlike the pointillistic modification characteristiccalculation unit 142 illustrated in FIG. 3, the pointillisticmodification characteristic calculation unit 201 not only supplies thecalculated modification characteristic to the modificationcharacteristic combining unit 301 as a modification characteristic mapbut also outputs a pointillistic pattern including an image of a localminimum value to the stroke modification characteristic calculation unit202.

The stroke modification characteristic calculation unit 202 is suppliedwith the image of the pointillistic pattern from the pointillisticmodification characteristic calculation unit 201 and information (flowvector) concerning the brush stroke direction from the stroke directioncalculation unit 205.

In step S303, the stroke modification characteristic calculation unit202 calculates a modification characteristic for generating a brushstroke pattern. The stroke pattern modification characteristiccalculation process is basically similar to the stroke patternmodification characteristic calculation process described above withreference to FIG. 27, and a detailed description thereof is thus omittedbecause it is redundant.

The stroke modification characteristic calculation unit 202 calculates amodification characteristic (relative position) for the position of thepixel having the minimum value, and supplies the calculated modificationcharacteristic to the modification characteristic combining unit 301 asa modification characteristic map.

In step S304, the modification characteristic combining unit 301combines the pointillistic modification characteristic supplied from thepointillistic modification characteristic calculation unit 201 and thestroke modification characteristic supplied from the stroke modificationcharacteristic calculation unit 202. The modification characteristiccombining unit 301 supplies the combined modification characteristic tothe modification processing unit 302 as a modification characteristicmap.

In step S305, the modification processing unit 302 modifies the inputimage supplied from the YC conversion processing unit 135 in accordancewith the combined modification characteristic map supplied from themodification characteristic combining unit 301. Then, the modificationprocessing unit 302 supplies the modified image to the downstream as anoutput image.

Accordingly, the pointillistic modification characteristic and thestroke modification characteristic may be combined, and a modificationprocess may be performed once. Consequently, the processing speed can beincreased.

In the foregoing description, by way of example, a pointillisticmodification characteristic is calculated to perform pointillisticmodification. However, as described just below, for example, a pluralityof stroke modifications with different directions may be used incombination, instead of the pointillist-style process being performed.

Another Example Configuration of Painting-Style Conversion ProcessingUnit

FIG. 34 is a block diagram illustrating an example configuration of thepainting-style conversion processing unit 136.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 34, the painting-style conversionprocessing unit 136 includes a stroke modification characteristiccalculation unit 202, a stroke direction calculation unit 205, amodification characteristic combining unit 301, a modificationprocessing unit 302, a 90-degree rotation unit 311, and a strokemodification characteristic calculation unit 312.

The painting-style conversion processing unit 136 illustrated in FIG. 34is common to the painting-style conversion processing unit 136illustrated in FIG. 32 in that the painting-style conversion processingunit 136 includes a stroke modification characteristic calculation unit202, a stroke direction calculation unit 205, a modificationcharacteristic combining unit 301, and a modification processing unit302. The common feature will not be described because it is redundant.

The painting-style conversion processing unit 136 illustrated in FIG. 34is different from the painting-style conversion processing unit 136illustrated in FIG. 32 in that the pointillistic modificationcharacteristic calculation unit 201 is removed and the painting-styleconversion processing unit 136 illustrated in FIG. 34 further includes a90-degree rotation unit 311 and a stroke modification characteristiccalculation unit 312.

The information concerning the brush stroke direction is supplied fromthe stroke direction calculation unit 205 to the 90-degree rotation unit311 as well as the stroke modification characteristic calculation unit202.

The 90-degree rotation unit 311 rotates the information concerning thebrush stroke direction supplied from the stroke direction calculationunit 205 by 90 degrees. The angle by which the 90-degree rotation unit311 rotates the information may be an angle in a direction differentfrom the brush stroke direction, and is not limited to 90 degrees if theangle makes the information thick with respect to the stroke direction.The 90-degree rotation unit 311 supplies the information concerning thebrush stroke direction, which has been rotated by 90 degrees, to thestroke modification characteristic calculation unit 312.

The stroke modification characteristic calculation unit 312 is alsosupplied with a random pattern from, for example, the CPU 112 or theinput device 113 illustrated in FIG. 1 or any other suitable device.

The stroke modification characteristic calculation unit 312 has aconfiguration similar to the stroke modification characteristiccalculation unit 202. That is, the stroke modification characteristiccalculation unit 312 basically has a configuration similar to theconfiguration of the stroke modification characteristic calculation unit202 described above with reference to FIG. 21.

The stroke modification characteristic calculation unit 312 calculates asearch range using 90-degree rotated flow vectors, and detects theposition in the calculated search range where the image of the randompattern to be supplied exhibits a minimum value. After a search for theminimum value has been completed, the stroke modification characteristiccalculation unit 312 calculates the modification characteristic(relative position) for the position of the pixel having the minimumvalue, and supplies the calculated modification characteristic to themodification characteristic combining unit 301 as a modificationcharacteristic map.

In addition, the stroke modification characteristic calculation unit 312outputs a brush stroke pattern including an image of a local minimumvalue (i.e., a brush stroke pattern that is an image of a local minimumvalue, whose local minimum value is spread over the search range area)to the stroke modification characteristic calculation unit 202.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 34, flow vectors to be input to thestroke modification characteristic calculation unit 312 are rotated.Alternatively, flow vectors to be input to the stroke modificationcharacteristic calculation unit 202 may be rotated.

Flow of Painting-Style Conversion Process

Next, the painting-style conversion process performed by thepainting-style conversion processing unit 136 illustrated in FIG. 34will be described with reference to a flowchart illustrated in FIG. 35.The painting-style conversion process illustrated in FIG. 35 is also anexample of the painting-style conversion process in step S107 in FIG. 7,and is another example of the painting-style conversion process in FIGS.8, 16, 25, and 33.

In step S311, the stroke direction calculation unit 205 calculatesinformation concerning a stroke direction which is less susceptible tonoise, using the input image supplied from the YC conversion processingunit 135. The stroke direction calculation unit 205 supplies theinformation concerning the stroke direction to the 90-degree rotationunit 311 and the stroke modification characteristic calculation unit202.

In step S312, the 90-degree rotation unit 311 rotates the information(flow vector) concerning the stroke direction supplied from the strokedirection calculation unit 205 by 90 degrees. The 90-degree rotationunit 311 supplies the information concerning the brush stroke direction,which has been rotated by 90 degrees, to the stroke modificationcharacteristic calculation unit 312.

The stroke modification characteristic calculation unit 312 is suppliedwith a random pattern from, for example, the CPU 112 or the input device113 illustrated in FIG. 1 or any other suitable device. In step S313,the stroke modification characteristic calculation unit 312 calculates amodification characteristic for generating a 90-degree rotated brushstroke pattern. The modification characteristic calculation process isbasically substantially similar to the modification characteristiccalculation process described above with reference to FIG. 27, and adetailed description thereof is thus omitted.

However, the stroke modification characteristic calculation unit 312 notonly supplies the calculated modification characteristic to themodification characteristic combining unit 301 as a modificationcharacteristic map but also outputs a brush stroke pattern including animage of a local minimum value to the stroke modification characteristiccalculation unit 202.

The stroke modification characteristic calculation unit 202 is suppliedwith the image of the brush stroke pattern from the stroke modificationcharacteristic calculation unit 312, and a signal indicating the brushstroke direction from the stroke direction calculation unit 205.

In step S314, the stroke modification characteristic calculation unit202 calculates a modification characteristic for generating a brushstroke pattern. The stroke pattern modification characteristiccalculation process is basically substantially similar to the strokepattern modification characteristic calculation process described abovewith reference to FIG. 27, and a detailed description thereof is thusomitted because it is redundant.

The stroke modification characteristic calculation unit 202 calculatesthe modification characteristic (relative position) for the position ofthe pixel having the minimum value, and supplies the calculatedmodification characteristic to the modification characteristic combiningunit 301 as a modification characteristic map.

In step S315, the modification characteristic combining unit 301combines the 90-degree rotated stroke modification characteristicsupplied from the stroke modification characteristic calculation unit312 and the stroke modification characteristic supplied from the strokemodification characteristic calculation unit 202. The modificationcharacteristic combining unit 301 supplies the combined modificationcharacteristic to the modification processing unit 302 as a modificationcharacteristic map.

In step S316, the modification processing unit 302 modifies the inputimage supplied from the YC conversion processing unit 135 in accordancewith the combined modification characteristic map supplied from themodification characteristic combining unit 301. Then, the modificationprocessing unit 302 supplies the modified image to the downstream as anoutput image.

Accordingly, a modification characteristic for a two-dimensional areamay be created using, instead of a pointillist modificationcharacteristic (two-dimensional) and a stroke modificationcharacteristic (one-dimensional), a plurality of stroke modifications(one-dimensional) with different directions in combination.

Also when a modification characteristic for a rotated stroke, in placeof a pointillistic modification characteristic, is generated, amodification process may be performed twice instead of modificationcharacteristics being combined.

Another Example Configuration of Painting-Style Conversion ProcessingUnit

FIG. 36 is a block diagram illustrating an example configuration of thepainting-style conversion processing unit 136. The painting-styleconversion processing unit 136 illustrated in FIG. 36 is an example ofan extended version of the painting-style conversion processing unit 136illustrated in FIG. 21, and has, similarly to the example illustrated inFIG. 12, a configuration capable of adjusting the strength of an outputbrush stroke.

Similarly to the painting-style conversion processing unit 136illustrated in FIG. 21, the painting-style conversion processing unit136 includes a pointillistic modification characteristic calculationunit 201, a stroke modification characteristic calculation unit 202, amodification processing unit 203, a modification processing unit 204,and a stroke direction calculation unit 205.

The painting-style conversion processing unit 136 illustrated in FIG. 36further includes a jitter adding unit 181 and a sharpening processingunit 182, as in the painting-style conversion processing unit 136illustrated in FIG. 12.

In the painting-style conversion processing unit 136 illustrated in FIG.36, the jitter adding unit 181 is located upstream of the modificationprocessing unit 203, and the sharpening processing unit 182 is locateddownstream of the modification processing unit 204.

The input image is supplied from the YC conversion processing unit 135to the jitter adding unit 181. The jitter adding unit 181 is alsosupplied with a random pattern from, for example, the CPU 112illustrated in FIG. 1 or any other suitable device. The jitter addingunit 181 adds jitter to the input image using the random pattern, andsupplies the image with jitter added thereto to the modificationprocessing unit 203.

The modification processing unit 203 modifies the image with jitteradded thereto, which has been supplied from the jitter adding unit 181,in accordance with the modification characteristic map supplied from thepointillistic modification characteristic calculation unit 201, andsupplies the modified image to the modification processing unit 204.

Similarly to the modification processing unit 141 illustrated in FIG. 3,the modification processing unit 204 has the configuration illustratedin FIG. 6. The modification processing unit 204 modifies the input imagesupplied from the modification processing unit 203 in accordance withthe modification characteristic map supplied from the strokemodification characteristic calculation unit 202, and supplies themodified image to the sharpening processing unit 182.

The sharpening processing unit 182 sharpens the modified image, andsupplies the sharpened image to the downstream as an output image.

With the above configuration, also in the case of the oil paintingprocess having the pointillist-style process and the stroke process incombination, the variation in the colors of dots in a pointillist stylecan be increased by adjusting the strength of jitter. Thus, the contrastbetween dots can be increased, and a strong brush stroke can beobtained. That is, the strength of a brush stroke can be adjusted usingtwo characteristics: the contrast between dots and the clarity ofboundaries.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 36, by way of example, an extendedversion of the painting-style conversion processing unit 136 illustratedin FIG. 21 is provided, and a configuration capable of adjusting thestrength of an output brush stroke is provided. However, an extendedversion of the painting-style conversion processing unit 136 illustratedin FIG. 32 or 34 may be provided, and a configuration capable ofadjusting the strength of an output brush stroke may be provided.

Flow of Painting-Style Conversion Process

Next, the painting-style conversion process executed by thepainting-style conversion processing unit 136 illustrated in FIG. 36will be described with reference to a flowchart illustrated in FIG. 37.The painting-style conversion process illustrated in FIG. 37 is also anexample of the painting-style conversion process in step S107 in FIG. 7.In addition, the painting-style conversion process illustrated in FIG.37 is also another example of the painting-style conversion processes inFIGS. 8, 16, 25, 33, and 35.

In step S351, the stroke direction calculation unit 205 calculatesinformation concerning a stroke direction which is less susceptible tonoise, using the input image supplied from the YC conversion processingunit 135. The stroke direction calculation unit 205 supplies theinformation concerning the stroke direction to the stroke modificationcharacteristic calculation unit 202.

The pointillistic modification characteristic calculation unit 201 issupplied with a random pattern and a search range from, for example, theCPU 112 or the input device 113 illustrated in FIG. 1 or any othersuitable device. In step S352, the pointillistic modificationcharacteristic calculation unit 201 calculates a modificationcharacteristic for generating a pointillistic pattern. The modificationcharacteristic calculation process is basically substantially similar tothe modification characteristic calculation process described above withreference to FIG. 9, and a detailed description thereof is thus omitted.

The pointillistic modification characteristic calculation unit 201supplies the calculated modification characteristic to the modificationprocessing unit 203 as a modification characteristic map, and outputs apointillistic pattern including an image of a local minimum value to thestroke modification characteristic calculation unit 202.

The stroke modification characteristic calculation unit 202 is suppliedwith the image of the pointillistic pattern from the pointillisticmodification characteristic calculation unit 201, and a signalindicating the brush stroke direction from the stroke directioncalculation unit 205.

In step S353, the stroke modification characteristic calculation unit202 calculates a modification characteristic for generating a brushstroke pattern. The stroke pattern modification characteristiccalculation process is basically substantially similar to the strokepattern modification characteristic calculation process described abovewith reference to FIG. 27, and a detailed description thereof is thusomitted.

The stroke modification characteristic calculation unit 202 calculates amodification characteristic (relative position) for the position of thepixel having the minimum value, and supplies the calculated modificationcharacteristic to the modification processing unit 204 as a modificationcharacteristic map.

In step S354, the jitter adding unit 181 adds jitter to the input imagesupplied from the YC conversion processing unit 135 using the randompattern supplied from the CPU 112 or the like. The jitter adding unit181 supplies the image jitter added thereto to the modificationprocessing unit 203.

In step S355, the modification processing unit 203 modifies the inputimage supplied from the jitter adding unit 181 in accordance with thepointillistic modification characteristic represented by themodification characteristic map supplied from the pointillisticmodification characteristic calculation unit 201, and obtains apointillistic image (modified image). The modification processing unit203 supplies the obtained pointillistic image to the modificationprocessing unit 204.

In step S356, the modification processing unit 204 modifies the inputimage (pointillistic image) supplied from the modification processingunit 203 in accordance with the stroke modification characteristic mapsupplied from the stroke modification characteristic calculation unit202. Then, the modification processing unit 204 supplies the modifiedimage to the sharpening processing unit 182.

In step S357, the sharpening processing unit 182 sharpens the modifiedimage. The sharpening process is basically substantially similar to thesharpening process described above with reference to FIG. 17, and adetailed description thereof is thus omitted. The image sharpenedthrough the processing of step S357 is supplied to the downstream as anoutput image.

FIG. 38 is a diagram illustrating another example of the relationshipsbetween adjustment buttons which are selectable by a user and parametersof search ranges (pointillist dot radii), amounts of jitter (strength),and sharpening (high-pass gain). The example illustrated in FIG. 38 isanother example of the adjustment button described above with referenceto FIGS. 18 and 19.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 38, the input of a “pointillistic”button, which has been selected by a user, is converted into parametersof: a search range (pointillist dot radius) of 3 pixels, a search range(stroke length) of 3 pixels, a jitter (strength) of ±32, and asharpening (high-pass gain) of ×1.2. That is, an input of the“pointillistic” button is converted into parameters to obtainpointillistic effects.

The input of an “impressionistic” button, which has been selected by auser, is converted into parameters of: a search range (pointillist dotradius) of 3 pixels, a search range (stroke length) of 15 pixels, ajitter (strength) of ±16, and a sharpening (high-pass gain) of ×1.4.That is, an input of the “impressionistic” button is converted intoparameters to obtain impressionistic effects.

The input of an “impressionistic (enhanced)” button, which has beenselected by a user, is converted into parameters of: a search range(pointillist dot radius) of 5 pixels, a search range (stroke length) of21 pixels, a jitter (strength) of ±32, and a sharpening (high-pass gain)of ×1.4. That is, an input of the “impressionistic” button is convertedinto parameters to obtain impressionistic effects.

Also when the pointillist-style process and the stroke process are usedin combination, the use (display control) of the above adjustmentbuttons allows a user to intuitively adjust the appearance of a brushstroke.

Accordingly, in an embodiment of the present technology, an image ismodified in accordance with a modification characteristic (relativeposition) in which the value of a certain pixel is spread over atwo-dimensional area. That is, a local minimum value is locallydistributed in accordance with a modification characteristic.

Therefore, artistic style effects can be quickly obtained, compared tothe existing repetitive processing methods. In particular, paintingeffects with stable strokes can be quickly obtained.

In addition, a variety of effects ranging from pointillistic paintingeffects to painting effects with long brush strokes can also beconsecutively selected. Furthermore, by adjusting parameters, it ispossible to modify painting effects in various ways.

In addition, with the use of a memory, intermediate calculation resultscan be recycled. Therefore, results obtained when processing parametersare changed can be quickly obtained.

In the foregoing description with reference to FIGS. 18, 19, 38, etc.,by way of example, a user input is converted into internal parameters,and painting effects are adjusted. However, there may be a demand toadjust painting effects for each part of an image in some cases, forexample, when the image includes a plurality of objects (for example,persons and landscapes).

In such cases, internal parameters may be switched depending on eachpixel in the image. By switching the internal parameters, it is possibleto obtain a desired processing result for each object. Specifically,data defining parameters for each pixel may be stored in advance.

With the above method, for example, fine rendering may be provided nearedges by reducing the width and/or length of a brush stroke, and asmooth output may be obtained in a face region by reducing the strengthof a brush stroke (by reducing the amount of jitter and the strength ofsharpening).

Features of an embodiment of the present technology reside on that animage is modified using a modification characteristic with which thevalue of a certain pixel is spread (or distributed) over atwo-dimensional area having a width and a length and that a modificationcharacteristic with which the value of a certain pixel is spread (ordistributed) over a two-dimensional area is generated. Theconfigurations described above are merely examples and any otherconfiguration may also be used.

In the foregoing description, a modification process is performed in adigital video camera, by way of example; however, the device with whicha modification process is performed is not limited to a digital videocamera. The above processes may also be performed in, for example, acomputer configured to perform image processing or a personal computer.The above processes may also be performed in a server. For example,image data may be transferred to a server via a network, and the servermay perform a modification process.

The series of processes described above may be executed by hardware orsoftware. When the series of processes is executed by software, aprogram forming the software is installed into a computer. Examples ofthe computer include a computer incorporated in dedicated hardware and ageneral-purpose personal computer capable of executing various functionsby being installed with various programs.

Third Embodiment Example Configuration of Computer

FIG. 39 is a block diagram illustrating an example configuration ofhardware of a computer that executes the series of processes describedin accordance with a program.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 39, an example configuration of apersonal computer 700 is illustrated as an example of a computer. Thepersonal computer 700 includes a CPU 701, a read only memory (ROM) 702,and a RAM 703 which are connected to one another via a bus 704.

An input/output interface 710 is further connected to the bus 704. Aninput unit 711, an output unit 712, a storage unit 713, a communicationunit 714, and a drive 715 are connected to the input/output interface710.

The input unit 711 includes a keyboard, a mouse, a microphone, and anyother suitable device. The output unit 712 includes a display, aspeaker, and any other suitable device. The storage unit 713 includes ahard disk, a non-volatile memory, and any other suitable device. Thecommunication unit 714 includes a network interface and any othersuitable device. The drive 715 drives a removable medium 721 such as amagnetic disc, an optical disc, a magneto-optical disc, or asemiconductor memory.

In the personal computer 700 having the above configuration, forexample, the CPU 701 loads a program stored in the storage unit 713 intothe RAM 703 via the input/output interface 710 and the bus 704 andexecutes the program, thus allowing the series of processes describedabove to be performed.

The program to be executed by the personal computer 700 (or the CPU 701)may be recorded and provided through the removable medium 721 servingas, for example, a packaged medium. The program may also be providedthrough a wired or wireless transmission medium such as a local areanetwork, the Internet, or digital broadcasting.

In the personal computer 700, the removable medium 721 is placed in thedrive 715, thereby enabling the program to be installed into the storageunit 713 through the input/output interface 710. The program may also bereceived at the communication unit 714 over a wired or wirelesstransmission medium, and installed into the storage unit 713.Alternatively, the program may be installed into the ROM 702 or thestorage unit 713 in advance.

The program to be executed by a computer may be a program according towhich processes are performed in a time-series manner in the orderdescribed herein, or may be a program according to which processes areperformed in parallel or at a necessary timing such as when called.

The term “system”, as used herein, refers to an overall apparatusincluding a plurality of devices, blocks, and elements.

Embodiments of the present technology are not limited to the foregoingembodiments, and a variety of modifications can be made withoutdeparting from the scope of the present technology.

For example, an embodiment of the present technology may provide a cloudcomputing configuration in which a single function is shared by aplurality of apparatuses via a network and is processed by the pluralityof apparatuses in a cooperative manner.

The steps in the individual flowcharts described above may be executedby a single apparatus or may be executed by a plurality of apparatusesin a distributed manner.

If a single step includes a plurality of processes, the plurality ofprocesses included in the single step may be executed by a singleapparatus or may be executed by a plurality of apparatuses in adistributed manner.

While exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure have beendescribed in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, thepresent disclosure is not limited to the foregoing examples. Manyvariations and modifications could be readily made by a person havingordinary skill in the art of the present disclosure without departingfrom the technical teaching of the present disclosure as defined in theappended claims, and it is to be understood that such variations andmodifications also fall within the technical scope of the presentdisclosure.

The present technology also encompasses the following embodiments:

(1) An image processing apparatus including:

a modification processing unit configured to modify an input image bydistributing a value of each of pixels in the input image over atwo-dimensional distribution area having a randomly different size anddirection in accordance with modification characteristic information fordistributing each pixel over the distribution area, the modificationcharacteristic information being information for modifying the inputimage using a modification characteristic which is randomly differentfor each pixel position.

(2) The image processing apparatus according to (1) above, furtherincluding a modification characteristic generation unit configured togenerate the modification characteristic information.(3) The image processing apparatus according to (2) above, wherein themodification characteristic generation unit includes

a pointillistic modification characteristic generation unit configuredto generate pointillistic modification characteristic informationconcerning a pointillist style using a random pattern image and apredetermined search range, and

a stroke modification characteristic generation unit configured togenerate stroke modification characteristic information concerning astroke using a search range determined from stroke direction informationconcerning a direction of the stroke.

(4) The image processing apparatus according to (3) above, wherein thepointillistic modification characteristic generation unit includes

a pointillistic coordinate detection unit configured to detectcoordinates of a pixel having a minimum value or a maximum value in thepredetermined search range for a pixel in the random pattern image, and

a pointillistic modification characteristic calculation unit configuredto calculate a positional relationship between the pixel in the randompattern image and the pixel whose coordinates are detected by thepointillistic coordinate detection unit to generate the pointillisticmodification characteristic information, and

wherein the stroke modification characteristic generation unit includes

-   -   a search range determination unit configured to determine the        search range from the stroke direction information,    -   a stroke coordinate detection unit configured to detect        coordinates of a pixel having a minimum value or a maximum value        in the search range for a pixel in a pointillistic pattern image        including the pixel whose coordinates are detected by the        pointillistic coordinate detection unit, and    -   a stroke modification characteristic calculation unit configured        to calculate a positional relationship between the pixel in the        pointillistic pattern image and the pixel whose coordinates are        detected by the stroke coordinate detection unit to generate the        stroke modification characteristic information.        (5) The image processing apparatus according to (3) or (4)        above, further including a modification characteristic combining        unit configured to combine the pointillistic modification        characteristic information and the stroke modification        characteristic information to obtain composite modification        characteristic information,

wherein the modification processing unit modifies the input image bydistributing the value of each of the pixels in the input image over thedistribution area in accordance with the composite modificationcharacteristic information obtained by the modification characteristiccombining unit.

(6) The image processing apparatus according to (3) or (4) above,wherein the modification processing unit includes

a pointillistic modification processing unit configured to modify theinput image to obtain a modified image by distributing the value of eachof the pixels in the input image over the distribution area inaccordance with the pointillistic modification characteristicinformation generated by the pointillistic modification characteristicgeneration unit, and

a stroke modification processing unit configured to modify the modifiedimage obtained by the pointillistic modification processing unit, bydistributing a value of each of pixels in the modified image obtained bythe pointillistic modification processing unit over the distributionarea in accordance with the stroke modification characteristicinformation generated by the stroke modification characteristicgeneration unit.

(7) The image processing apparatus according to any of (3) to (6) above,further including:

a pointillistic modification characteristic adjustment unit configuredto adjust a characteristic represented by the pointillistic modificationcharacteristic information; and

a stroke modification characteristic adjustment unit configured toadjust a characteristic represented by the stroke modificationcharacteristic information.

(8) The image processing apparatus according to (7) above, furtherincluding a selection unit configured to select a plurality ofcombinations of a degree to which the characteristic represented by thepointillistic modification characteristic information is adjusted and adegree to which the characteristic represented by the strokemodification characteristic information is adjusted,

wherein the pointillistic modification characteristic adjustment unitand the stroke modification characteristic adjustment unit adjust thecharacteristic represented by the pointillistic modificationcharacteristic information and the characteristic represented by thestroke modification characteristic information, respectively, inaccordance with the plurality of combinations selected by a user usingthe selection unit.

(9) The image processing apparatus according to (2) above, wherein themodification characteristic generation unit includes

a first stroke modification characteristic generation unit configured togenerate first stroke modification characteristic information using arandom pattern image and a first search range determined from firststroke direction information concerning a first stroke direction, and

a second stroke modification characteristic generation unit configuredto generate second stroke modification characteristic information usinga second search range determined from second stroke directioninformation concerning a second stroke direction, the second strokedirection information being information obtained by rotating the firststroke direction information.

(10) The image processing apparatus according to (9) above, wherein thefirst stroke modification characteristic generation unit includes

a first search range determination unit configured to determine thefirst search range from the first stroke direction information,

a first coordinate detection unit configured to detect coordinates of apixel having a minimum value or a maximum value in the first searchrange for a pixel in the random pattern image, and

a first stroke modification characteristic calculation unit configuredto calculate a positional relationship between the pixel in the randompattern image and the pixel whose coordinates are detected by the firstcoordinate detection unit to generate the first stroke modificationcharacteristic information, and

wherein the second stroke modification characteristic generation unitincludes

-   -   a second search range determination unit configured to determine        the second search range from the second stroke direction        information,    -   a second coordinate detection unit configured to detect        coordinates of a pixel having a minimum value or a maximum value        in the second search range for a pixel in a stroke pattern image        including the pixel whose coordinates are detected by the first        coordinate detection unit, and    -   a second stroke modification characteristic calculation unit        configured to calculate a positional relationship between the        pixel in the stroke pattern image and the pixel whose        coordinates are detected by the second coordinate detection unit        to generate the second stroke modification characteristic        information.        (11) The image processing apparatus according to (9) or (10)        above, further including a modification characteristic combining        unit configured to combine the first stroke modification        characteristic information and the second stroke modification        characteristic information to obtain composite modification        characteristic information,

wherein the modification processing unit modifies the input image bydistributing the value of each of the pixels in the input image over thedistribution area in accordance with the composite modificationcharacteristic information obtained by the modification characteristiccombining unit.

(12) The image processing apparatus according to (9) or (10) above,wherein the modification processing unit includes

a first modification processing unit configured to modify the inputimage to obtain a modified image by distributing the value of each ofthe pixels in the input image over the distribution area in accordancewith the first stroke modification characteristic information generatedby the first stroke modification characteristic generation unit, and

a second modification processing unit configured to modify the modifiedimage obtained by the first modification processing unit, bydistributing a value of each of pixels in the modified image obtained bythe first modification processing unit over the distribution area inaccordance with the second stroke modification characteristicinformation generated by the second stroke modification characteristicgeneration unit.

(13) The image processing apparatus according to (2) above, wherein themodification characteristic generation unit generates pointillisticmodification characteristic information concerning a pointillist styleusing a random pattern image and a predetermined search range.(14) The image processing apparatus according to (13) above, wherein themodification characteristic generation unit includes

a pointillistic coordinate detection unit configured to detectcoordinates of a pixel having a minimum value or a maximum value in thepredetermined search range for a pixel in the random pattern image, and

a pointillistic modification characteristic calculation unit configuredto calculate a positional relationship between the pixel in the randompattern image and the pixel whose coordinates are detected by thepointillistic coordinate detection unit to generate the pointillisticmodification characteristic information.

(15) The image processing apparatus according to any of (1) to (14)above, further including:

a jitter adding unit configured to add jitter to the input image beforethe input image is input to the modification processing unit; and

a sharpening processing unit configured to perform a high-frequencyemphasis process on the image modified by the modification processingunit.

(16) The image processing apparatus according to (15) above, furtherincluding:

a modification characteristic adjustment unit configured to adjust acharacteristic represented by the modification characteristicinformation; and

a strength adjustment unit configured to adjust a strength of the jitterand the high-frequency emphasis process.

(17) The image processing apparatus according to (16) above, furtherincluding a selection unit configured to select a plurality ofcombinations of a degree to which the characteristic represented by themodification characteristic information is adjusted and a degree towhich the jitter and the high-frequency emphasis process are adjusted,

wherein the modification characteristic adjustment unit and the strengthadjustment unit adjust the characteristic represented by themodification characteristic information and the strength of the jitterand the high-frequency emphasis process, respectively, in accordancewith the plurality of combinations selected by a user using theselection unit.

(18) The image processing apparatus according to any of (2) to (17)above, further including a memory configured to hold the modificationcharacteristic information generated by the modification characteristicgeneration unit.(19) The image processing apparatus according to (1) above, furtherincluding a memory configured to hold the modification characteristicinformation.(20) The image processing apparatus according to (19) above, wherein themodification characteristic information is generated through detectionof coordinates of a pixel having a minimum value or a maximum value in apredetermined search range for a pixel in a random pattern image andthrough calculation of a positional relationship between the pixel whosecoordinates are detected and the pixel in the random pattern image.(21) An image processing method including:

modifying an input image by distributing a value of each of pixels inthe input image over a two-dimensional distribution area having arandomly different size and direction in accordance with modificationcharacteristic information for distributing each pixel over thedistribution area, the modification characteristic information beinginformation for modifying the input image using a modificationcharacteristic which is randomly different for each pixel position.

(22) A program for causing a computer to execute an image processingmethod for executing an image processing method, including:

modifying an input image by distributing a value of each of pixels inthe input image over a two-dimensional distribution area having arandomly different size and direction in accordance with modificationcharacteristic information for distributing each pixel over thedistribution area, the modification characteristic information beinginformation for modifying the input image using a modificationcharacteristic which is randomly different for each pixel position.

The present disclosure contains subject matter related to that disclosedin Japanese Priority Patent Application JP 2011-191760 filed in theJapan Patent Office on Sep. 2, 2011, the entire contents of which arehereby incorporated by reference.

It should be understood by those skilled in the art that variousmodifications, combinations, sub-combinations and alterations may occurdepending on design requirements and other factors insofar as they arewithin the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.

1. An image processing apparatus comprising: a modification processingunit configured to modify an input image by distributing a value of eachof pixels in the input image over a two-dimensional distribution areahaving a randomly different size and direction in accordance withmodification characteristic information for distributing each pixel overthe distribution area, the modification characteristic information beinginformation for modifying the input image using a modificationcharacteristic which is randomly different for each pixel position. 2.The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprisinga modification characteristic generation unit configured to generate themodification characteristic information.
 3. The image processingapparatus according to claim 2, wherein the modification characteristicgeneration unit includes a pointillistic modification characteristicgeneration unit configured to generate pointillistic modificationcharacteristic information concerning a pointillist style using a randompattern image and a predetermined search range, and a strokemodification characteristic generation unit configured to generatestroke modification characteristic information concerning a stroke usinga search range determined from stroke direction information concerning adirection of the stroke.
 4. The image processing apparatus according toclaim 3, wherein the pointillistic modification characteristicgeneration unit includes a pointillistic coordinate detection unitconfigured to detect coordinates of a pixel having a minimum value or amaximum value in the predetermined search range for a pixel in therandom pattern image, and a pointillistic modification characteristiccalculation unit configured to calculate a positional relationshipbetween the pixel in the random pattern image and the pixel whosecoordinates are detected by the pointillistic coordinate detection unitto generate the pointillistic modification characteristic information,and wherein the stroke modification characteristic generation unitincludes a search range determination unit configured to determine thesearch range from the stroke direction information, a stroke coordinatedetection unit configured to detect coordinates of a pixel having aminimum value or a maximum value in the search range for a pixel in apointillistic pattern image including the pixel whose coordinates aredetected by the pointillistic coordinate detection unit, and a strokemodification characteristic calculation unit configured to calculate apositional relationship between the pixel in the pointillistic patternimage and the pixel whose coordinates are detected by the strokecoordinate detection unit to generate the stroke modificationcharacteristic information.
 5. The image processing apparatus accordingto claim 3, further comprising a modification characteristic combiningunit configured to combine the pointillistic modification characteristicinformation and the stroke modification characteristic information toobtain composite modification characteristic information, wherein themodification processing unit modifies the input image by distributingthe value of each of the pixels in the input image over the distributionarea in accordance with the composite modification characteristicinformation obtained by the modification characteristic combining unit.6. The image processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein themodification processing unit includes a pointillistic modificationprocessing unit configured to modify the input image to obtain amodified image by distributing the value of each of the pixels in theinput image over the distribution area in accordance with thepointillistic modification characteristic information generated by thepointillistic modification characteristic generation unit, and a strokemodification processing unit configured to modify the modified imageobtained by the pointillistic modification processing unit, bydistributing a value of each of pixels in the modified image obtained bythe pointillistic modification processing unit over the distributionarea in accordance with the stroke modification characteristicinformation generated by the stroke modification characteristicgeneration unit.
 7. The image processing apparatus according to claim 3,further comprising: a pointillistic modification characteristicadjustment unit configured to adjust a characteristic represented by thepointillistic modification characteristic information; and a strokemodification characteristic adjustment unit configured to adjust acharacteristic represented by the stroke modification characteristicinformation.
 8. The image processing apparatus according to claim 7,further comprising a selection unit configured to select a plurality ofcombinations of a degree to which the characteristic represented by thepointillistic modification characteristic information is adjusted and adegree to which the characteristic represented by the strokemodification characteristic information is adjusted, wherein thepointillistic modification characteristic adjustment unit and the strokemodification characteristic adjustment unit adjust the characteristicrepresented by the pointillistic modification characteristic informationand the characteristic represented by the stroke modificationcharacteristic information, respectively, in accordance with theplurality of combinations selected by a user using the selection unit.9. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein themodification characteristic generation unit includes a first strokemodification characteristic generation unit configured to generate firststroke modification characteristic information using a random patternimage and a first search range determined from first stroke directioninformation concerning a first stroke direction, and a second strokemodification characteristic generation unit configured to generatesecond stroke modification characteristic information using a secondsearch range determined from second stroke direction informationconcerning a second stroke direction, the second stroke directioninformation being information obtained by rotating the first strokedirection information.
 10. The image processing apparatus according toclaim 9, wherein the first stroke modification characteristic generationunit includes a first search range determination unit configured todetermine the first search range from the first stroke directioninformation, a first coordinate detection unit configured to detectcoordinates of a pixel having a minimum value or a maximum value in thefirst search range for a pixel in the random pattern image, and a firststroke modification characteristic calculation unit configured tocalculate a positional relationship between the pixel in the randompattern image and the pixel whose coordinates are detected by the firstcoordinate detection unit to generate the first stroke modificationcharacteristic information, and wherein the second stroke modificationcharacteristic generation unit includes a second search rangedetermination unit configured to determine the second search range fromthe second stroke direction information, a second coordinate detectionunit configured to detect coordinates of a pixel having a minimum valueor a maximum value in the second search range for a pixel in a strokepattern image including the pixel whose coordinates are detected by thefirst coordinate detection unit, and a second stroke modificationcharacteristic calculation unit configured to calculate a positionalrelationship between the pixel in the stroke pattern image and the pixelwhose coordinates are detected by the second coordinate detection unitto generate the second stroke modification characteristic information.11. The image processing apparatus according to claim 9, furthercomprising a modification characteristic combining unit configured tocombine the first stroke modification characteristic information and thesecond stroke modification characteristic information to obtaincomposite modification characteristic information, wherein themodification processing unit modifies the input image by distributingthe value of each of the pixels in the input image over the distributionarea in accordance with the composite modification characteristicinformation obtained by the modification characteristic combining unit.12. The image processing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein themodification processing unit includes a first modification processingunit configured to modify the input image to obtain a modified image bydistributing the value of each of the pixels in the input image over thedistribution area in accordance with the first stroke modificationcharacteristic information generated by the first stroke modificationcharacteristic generation unit, and a second modification processingunit configured to modify the modified image obtained by the firstmodification processing unit, by distributing a value of each of pixelsin the modified image obtained by the first modification processing unitover the distribution area in accordance with the second strokemodification characteristic information generated by the second strokemodification characteristic generation unit.
 13. The image processingapparatus according to claim 2, wherein the modification characteristicgeneration unit generates pointillistic modification characteristicinformation concerning a pointillist style using a random pattern imageand a predetermined search range.
 14. The image processing apparatusaccording to claim 13, wherein the modification characteristicgeneration unit includes a pointillistic coordinate detection unitconfigured to detect coordinates of a pixel having a minimum value or amaximum value in the predetermined search range for a pixel in therandom pattern image, and a pointillistic modification characteristiccalculation unit configured to calculate a positional relationshipbetween the pixel in the random pattern image and the pixel whosecoordinates are detected by the pointillistic coordinate detection unitto generate the pointillistic modification characteristic information.15. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, furthercomprising: a jitter adding unit configured to add jitter to the inputimage before the input image is input to the modification processingunit; and a sharpening processing unit configured to perform ahigh-frequency emphasis process on the image modified by themodification processing unit.
 16. The image processing apparatusaccording to claim 15, further comprising: a modification characteristicadjustment unit configured to adjust a characteristic represented by themodification characteristic information; and a strength adjustment unitconfigured to adjust a strength of the jitter and the high-frequencyemphasis process.
 17. The image processing apparatus according to claim16, further comprising a selection unit configured to select a pluralityof combinations of a degree to which the characteristic represented bythe modification characteristic information is adjusted and a degree towhich the jitter and the high-frequency emphasis process are adjusted,wherein the modification characteristic adjustment unit and the strengthadjustment unit adjust the characteristic represented by themodification characteristic information and the strength of the jitterand the high-frequency emphasis process, respectively, in accordancewith the plurality of combinations selected by a user using theselection unit.
 18. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2,further comprising a memory configured to hold the modificationcharacteristic information generated by the modification characteristicgeneration unit.
 19. The image processing apparatus according to claim1, further comprising a memory configured to hold the modificationcharacteristic information.
 20. The image processing apparatus accordingto claim 19, wherein the modification characteristic information isgenerated through detection of coordinates of a pixel having a minimumvalue or a maximum value in a predetermined search range for a pixel ina random pattern image and through calculation of a positionalrelationship between the pixel whose coordinates are detected and thepixel in the random pattern image.
 21. An image processing methodcomprising: modifying an input image by distributing a value of each ofpixels in the input image over a two-dimensional distribution areahaving a randomly different size and direction in accordance withmodification characteristic information for distributing each pixel overthe distribution area, the modification characteristic information beinginformation for modifying the input image using a modificationcharacteristic which is randomly different for each pixel position. 22.A program for causing a computer to execute an image processing methodfor executing an image processing method, comprising: modifying an inputimage by distributing a value of each of pixels in the input image overa two-dimensional distribution area having a randomly different size anddirection in accordance with modification characteristic information fordistributing each pixel over the distribution area, the modificationcharacteristic information being information for modifying the inputimage using a modification characteristic which is randomly differentfor each pixel position.